Ported stabilized window structures and systems and methods for ported stabilization of window structures

ABSTRACT

A ported stabilized window structure includes a light transmissible patch secured over an opening of the window structure, a body of unifying material bonded to the patch to form a cohesive mass, and a port in the cohesive mass providing visualization and/or light transmission. The port is formed by a passage in the body of unifying material and by a segment of the patch that is maintained free of the unifying material. A system for ported stabilization of a window structure provides the components used to obtain a ported stabilized window structure. A method for ported stabilization of a window structure involves covering an opening of the window structure with a light transmissible patch, shielding a segment of the patch, applying a body of unifying material to the patch around the shielded segment to form a passage in the body of unifying material, and providing visualization and/or light transmission via a port formed by the passage and by the shielded segment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/059,272 filed Jan. 31, 2002, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/920,750filed Aug. 3, 2001, the entire disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to stabilizing window structures, in whichall of the glass is missing from an opening circumscribed by a frame ofthe window structure, by filling the empty opening.

2. Brief Discussion of the Related Art

Window structures are found in many various types of fabrications orconstructions including buildings and vehicles, such as automobiles,buses, trucks, trains, planes, boats, ships and the like. Conventionalwindow structures include one or more transparent window panes,typically made of glass or other breakable material, and a frame, whichmay be formed by a separate frame member or by a portion of thefabrication or construction itself, supporting the one or more panes.The panes of most window structures are susceptible to damage from manyvarious sources; and, consequently, shattering, breaking or cracking ofwindow panes is not uncommon. A window structure in which a pane isshattered, broken or cracked is unstable or destabilized since thedamaged pane is prone to collapse or cave in, loose fragments or shardsmay fall or come loose from the pane, and the barrier or seal normallyprovided by the unbroken pane between the exterior and interior sidesthereof is compromised. Fragments that actually fall or come loose fromthe pane present the risks of injury to individuals and damage toobjects located exteriorly and/or interiorly of the window structure,particularly since the panes of window structures are most commonly madeof glass. Where the shattered pane is in a window structure located atan elevated level or floor, pieces of the pane that fall exteriorlypresent a grave risk of harm to people and objects below, especially inurban areas. Compromise of the barrier or seal normally provided by theunbroken window pane presents the risk that the interior side will beundesirably exposed to environmental elements via cracks, fractures,fissures and/or holes in the pane. Accordingly, there is often a greatsense of urgency to remove and replace shattered window panesimmediately to eliminate the hazards presented when they are left inplace for some time. In most cases, however, shattered window panescannot be replaced immediately after they are broken; and, therefore,they must typically remain in place for some time while presenting anongoing risk of harm until replacement can be accomplished. Althoughplywood is sometimes used to temporarily cover window structures inwhich the panes are damaged, plywood is heavy, typically fifty poundsfor a single sheet, cumbersome, expensive, requires carpentry skill toinstall and is inconvenient to use. More specifically, plywood musttypically be cut to fit the particular window and must be drilled andscrewed into place so that the window frame and/or the fabrication orconstruction in which the window structure is installed may be damagedby the fasteners needed to secure the plywood in place. The drawbacksassociated with the use of plywood are even greater when numerousdamaged window structures are involved and/or when the damaged windowstructure is not easily accessible, such as when the damaged windowstructure is at an elevated level or floor.

The instability presented by a window structure having a shatteredwindow pane makes safe removal of the pane difficult to accomplish. Onecommon approach used by professional glass companies to remove shatteredglass panes of window structures involves banging or smashing the paneswith a hammer or other implement so that they fall to the exterior ofthe fabrications or constructions in which the window structures areinstalled. This “knock-out” approach tends to scatter glass fragments,and even tempered or laminated glass can produce many small fragments.When the glass fragments impact the ground or other objects, they mayshatter even further and may damage the objects impacted thereby.Afterwards, significant additional labor is required for clean-up tocollect and remove the glass fragments. Even when great care isexercised, however, potentially injurious glass fragments may be leftbehind due to the great difficulty associated with collecting smalland/or widely scattered glass fragments. A further problem associatedwith the “knock-out” approach is that the glass usually splinters alongthe window frame such that shards are created along a track of thewindow structure, and these shards are dangerous and tedious to removeas described further below. Where the window structure is located at anelevated level or floor, the “knock-out” approach may be unacceptablydangerous. Another approach is to remove the shattered glass carefullyby hand, piece by piece. The latter approach is dangerous, very timeconsuming, and messy, requiring the glass remover to work slowly andcautiously. Moreover, removing the glass pieces individually affordslittle control over preventing the shattered window pane from collapsingor caving in as the pieces are removed.

A further approach to dealing with shattered glass panes of windowstructures attempts to stabilize the window structures prior to removalof the panes. With this approach, the shattered glass panes are tapedwith adhesive tape to hold the panes together prior to removing themfrom the fabrications or constructions in which the window structuresare installed. In order to keep a shattered glass pane intact, theadhesive tape must typically be applied to the entire or substantiallythe entire surface of the shattered glass pane. Applying the adhesivetape to the entire or substantially the entire surface of the shatteredglass pane is laborious and time consuming, particularly where the glasspane is large. In addition, the tape must be pressed against theshattered pane in order to adhere the tape thereto, and such pressure orforce can cause the pane to cave in or collapse and/or fragments to comeloose therefrom. Even when the adhesive tape is carefully applied to theentire surface of the glass pane, fragments may still become detachedfrom the tape and fall when the shattered pane is manipulated duringremoval.

A window structure is also unstable or destabilized where all orsubstantially all of the glass is missing therefrom. The barrier or sealnormally provided by the unbroken glass is entirely lacking or iscompromised, resulting in a great risk that the interior of thefabrication or construction and/or objects disposed therein will bedamaged by environmental elements. In addition, the absence of all orsubstantially all of the glass from a window structure may present anopening large enough for a person, especially a child, to accidentallyfall through. Plywood has been used on window structures to cover largeholes until replacement panes can be installed, but has variousdrawbacks as noted above. A further instability arises in windowstructures in which an insubstantial amount of the window pane remainsas shards disposed in a track formed in or on one or more mullionsand/or in or on the frame of the window structure. These shards protrudefrom the mullions and/or window frame and are potentially very injuriousdue to their exposed points and/or sharp edges. Moreover, the shards aredifficult and time consuming to remove from the track, being typicallyremoved individually by hand.

In vehicles, the panes of window structures, such as windshields,sliding windows, fixed windows and movable windows, are oftentimesshattered, cracked or broken due to impacts, such as those incurredduring vehicular collisions or crashes. Plastic sheeting is sometimestaped over shattered vehicle windows to provide a barrier between theexterior and the interior of the vehicle; however, the use of tape isdisadvantageous for requiring that pressure or force be applied to thewindow as discussed above. Shattered window panes in vehicles thuslypresent the same problems discussed above and also present additionalproblems in emergency situations where one or more passengers aretrapped inside a vehicle. Where one or more passengers are trappedinside a vehicle, such as when the doors of the vehicle cannot beopened, it is often necessary to quickly remove a window pane to accessthe one or more passengers. In the case of automobiles, for example, itis often necessary to quickly remove a shattered front and/or rearwindshield in order to access one or more passengers trapped inside.Where one or more trapped passengers are injured and require medicalattention, reducing the time required to remove a vehicle window pane toaccess the one or more passengers is of the essence.

It is undesirable to remove broken window panes of vehicles by pushingthe panes into the interior of the vehicles. The disadvantages of thelatter approach are discussed above, and the latter approach isparticularly undesirable where one or more passengers are trapped insidethe vehicle, since the one or more passengers may be injured byfragments of the pane during and subsequent to entry of the fragmentsinto the vehicle interior. An approach that has been used in emergencysituations to remove shattered car windows involves applying adhesivetape to the exterior surface of a shattered window pane in order toenhance the integrity of the shattered window pane so that paramedicscan pull it out of the car using handles created with the tape. Aspointed out above, this procedure is usually time consuming and maycause the shattered window pane to cave in or collapse. The time thatmust be spent taping the shattered window pane represents time that aninjured passenger goes untreated. In addition, caving or collapsing ofthe window pane into the vehicle interior may cause injury to thepassengers therein.

The use of polymeric materials applied to glass for removal by peelinghas been proposed, as represented by U.S. Pat. No. 3,455,865 to Bolt etal, U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,918 to Motter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,543 toHelton, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,020,288 and 5,107,643 to Swenson, U.S. Pat. No.5,143,949 to Grogan et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,436 to Swidler, and U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,186,978, 5,302,413, 5,362,786, 5,411,760 and 5,523,117 toWoodhall et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,830,760 to Benngston and U.S. Pat. No.4,596,725 to Kluth et al are illustrative of one-component andtwo-component polyurethanes. None of the aforementioned patentscontemplates the use of a cohesive or unifying material to stabilize awindow structure in which all or substantially all of the glass ismissing therefrom, to form a shattered pane into a cohesive massallowing safe removal of the shattered pane as one or more relativelylarge pieces, to safely remove glass shards from a track of a windowstructure, or to safely remove a shattered window pane in a plurality ofseparate sections, corresponding to a plurality of separate cohesivemasses, using cracks in the window pane to define the separate cohesivemasses. Also, none of the aforementioned patents considers using apre-formed panel of lightweight compressible material over an unstablewindow structure to thereby impart stability to the window structure.

From the above, it should be appreciated that there is a great need forstabilized window structures and methods of stabilizing windowstructures in which all or substantially all of the glass is missingtherefrom. There is also a need for methods of removing shattered glassfrom window structures wherein shattered window panes can becontrollably removed as part of a single cohesive mass or as part of aplurality of relatively large, cohesive or integral masses, with theplurality of cohesive masses being formed by separating a singlecohesive mass into separately removable pieces or by forming separatelyremovable cohesive masses using pre-existing cracks of the shatteredpane to define the separately removable cohesive masses. An additionalneed exists for lightweight, inexpensive, and easy-to-install pre-formedpanels which may be used advantageously instead of plywood to impartstability to unstable or destabilized window structures. The needfurther exists for methods of removing glass shards from a track of awindow structure wherein the shards are removed as part of one or morecohesive masses. Stabilized window structures and methods of stabilizingand removing shattered glass from window structures are needed which donot apply significant pressure or force to the glass and which are safe,efficient, easy to use, economical, and applicable to various types andsizes of windows installed in various diverse fabrications orconstructions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally characterized in a ported stabilizedwindow structure wherein a window structure that is unstable due to thepresence of an opening devoid of glass is stabilized by filling theopening with a cohesive mass having a port providing visualizationand/or light transmission through the cohesive mass. The portedstabilized window structure includes a window structure having a framecircumscribing an opening devoid of glass, a transparent, translucent orclear patch covering the opening and presenting an exposed surface areawithin the opening, a body of unifying material bonded to the surface ofthe patch to form a cohesive mass, and a port in the cohesive mass forvisualization and/or light transmission therethrough. The body ofunifying material is disposed around a segment of the exposed surfacearea that is maintained free of the unifying material. The body ofunifying material has a passage therethrough in communication oralignment with the patch segment that is maintained free of the unifyingmaterial. The port is formed by the passage and by the patch segment incommunication with the passage. The patch may be releasably secured tothe window structure in various ways including adhesively, mechanicallyusing a separate securing device and/or using structure of the windowstructure as a securing device. The unifying material is preferably apolymeric foam applied to the surface of the patch in fluidic form andthereafter solidifying to form the cohesive mass. Since the polymericfoam unifying material forms a permanent or essentially permanent bond,the ported stabilized window structure can include a release elementreleasably secured on any surface area of or around the window structurethat it is desired to protect from the application of the polymeric foamunifying material. The patch may be disposed along an exterior side ofthe window structure, and the body of unifying material may be disposedalong the interior side of the window structure. The ported stabilizedwindow structure may further include a hollow shield body bonded to thebody of unifying material as part of the cohesive mass with an open endof the shield body disposed over the segment of the patch and theinterior of the shield body defining the passage in the body of unifyingmaterial. The patch can be a first patch and the ported stabilizedwindow structure may further comprise a second patch disposed over thebody of unifying material such that the body of unifying material issandwiched between the first and second patches.

Another aspect of the present invention is generally characterized in asystem for ported stabilization of a window structure having a windowframe circumscribing an opening devoid of glass that renders the windowstructure unstable. The system includes a sheet of light transmissiblematerial for being secured on the window structure to cover the openingand present an exposed surface area within the opening, a supply of afluidic unifying material for being applied to the exposed surface areaas a body of unifying material, and a shield device for being disposedon a segment of the exposed surface area of the sheet to shield thesegment from application of the unifying material. The body of unifyingmaterial applied to the surface of the sheet solidifies afterapplication to bond to the sheet to form a cohesive mass. The shielddevice maintains the segment of the exposed surface area of the sheetfree from the application of the unifying material to form a port in thecohesive mass including the shielded segment and a passage in the bodyof unifying material to provide light transmission and/or visualizationthrough the cohesive mass. The shield device may include a shield bodyof hollow construction for being bonded to the body of unifying materialas part of the cohesive mass, with the interior of the shield bodyforming the passage in the body of unifying material. The shield devicemay include a shield body removable from the body of unifying materialto form the passage in the body of unifying material in the placevacated by the shield body. The shield device may include a removablemask for being removably disposed in contact with the surface segment ofthe sheet that is to be shielded or maintained free of the unifyingmaterial for application of the unifying material around the mask toform the passage in the body of unifying material, the mask beingremovable from the sheet to reveal the shielded segment. The mask can beremovable from the sheet with an attached section of the body ofunifying material to reveal the shielded segment and form the passage inthe body of unifying material in the place vacated by the removedsection.

An additional aspect of the present invention is generally characterizedin a method for ported stabilization of a window structure that isunstable due to a window frame of the window structure circumscribing anopening devoid of glass. The method involves securing a lighttransmissible patch on the window structure to cover the opening andpresent an exposed surface area within the opening, shielding a segmentof the exposed surface area, applying a body of unifying material offluidic polymeric foam to the exposed surface area of the sheet aroundthe shielded segment to form a passage in the body of unifying materialin communication with the shielded segment, allowing the fluidic foam tosolidify and form a cohesive mass including the body of unifyingmaterial and the sheet bonded thereto, and providing visualizationand/or light transmission through the cohesive mass via a port formed bythe passage and by the shielded segment of the sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a broken, front perspective view of a building including awindow structure having a shattered pane and showing a layer of unifyingmaterial being applied to an exterior surface of the shattered pane.

FIG. 2 is a broken, front perspective view of the building of FIG. 1subsequent to application of the layer of unifying material to theshattered pane to form the shattered pane into a cohesive mass.

FIG. 3 is a broken cross-sectional view of the window structure takenalong line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the cohesivemass illustrating seepage of the unifying material into a crack of theshattered pane.

FIG. 5 is a broken, front perspective view of the building of FIG. 2illustrating removal of the shattered pane with the cohesive mass.

FIG. 6 is a broken cross-sectional view of a window structureillustrating an alternative layer of unifying material applied to ashattered pane of the window structure.

FIG. 7 is a broken cross-sectional view of a window structure showinglayers of unifying material applied to the exterior and interiorsurfaces, respectively, of a shattered pane of the window structure,with one of the layers including a plurality of sub-layers.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating use of a two-component supplysystem in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a broken, front perspective view of a building including awindow structure having a shattered pane with a hole therein and showinga first layer of unifying material being applied to the pane around thehole.

FIG. 10 is a broken, front perspective view of the building of FIG. 9showing a patch applied over the hole and being adhered by the firstlayer of unifying material.

FIG. 11 is a broken, front perspective view of the building of FIG. 10illustrating a second layer of unifying material being applied over thepatch to seal the hole in the pane.

FIG. 12 is a broken, front perspective view of an automobile having ashattered windshield to which a layer of unifying material has beenapplied to form a cohesive mass and illustrating the shatteredwindshield being manually held via handles attached to the cohesivemass.

FIG. 13 is a broken, front perspective view of the automobile of FIG. 12illustrating removal of the shattered windshield with the cohesive mass.

FIG. 14 is a broken, front perspective view of a building including awindow structure having a window pane with pre-existing cracks dividingthe window pane into a plurality of separate, disconnected window panesections and showing grasping members attached directly to the windowpane.

FIG. 15 is a broken, front perspective view of the building of FIG. 14illustrating application of layers of unifying material to the windowpane sections, respectively, to form a plurality of separate,discontinuous cohesive masses, respectively.

FIG. 16 is a broken, front perspective view of the building of FIG. 15depicting removal of the cohesive masses separately from one another.

FIG. 17 is a broken, front perspective view of a building including awindow structure having a window frame circumscribing an openingentirely or substantially entirely devoid of glass.

FIG. 18 is a broken, front perspective view of the building of FIG. 17showing a first patch member secured over a portion of the opening.

FIG. 19 is a broken, front perspective view of the building of FIG. 18illustrating a second patch member secured over the remainder of theopening to form a patch covering the entire opening and depicting alayer of unifying material being applied over the patch.

FIG. 20 is a broken, front perspective view of the building of FIG. 19subsequent to application of the layer of unifying material over thepatch to form a cohesive mass therewith.

FIG. 21 is a broken, front perspective view of a building including awindow structure having a window frame circumscribing an openingentirely or substantially entirely devoid of glass and illustratingstabilization of the window structure via a pre-formed polymeric foampanel secured over the opening.

FIG. 22 is a broken, front perspective view of a building including awindow structure having a plurality of window panes mounted in tracks,respectively, of the window structure, with one of the window panesbeing shattered such that fragments protrude from the track of theshattered pane.

FIG. 23 is a broken, enlarged perspective view of the window structureof FIG. 22 showing the fragments disposed in the track.

FIG. 24 is a broken, enlarged perspective view of the window structureof FIG. 23 depicting a body of unifying material being applied to thefragments to form the fragments into a cohesive mass.

FIG. 25 is a broken, enlarged perspective view of the window structureof FIG. 24 illustrating removal of the fragments with the cohesive mass.

FIG. 26 is a broken, front perspective view of a building depictingstabilization of a window structure utilizing a body of unifyingmaterial applied over a plurality of pre-formed polymeric foam patchmembers with the unifying material bridging a seam between adjacentpatch members.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a window frame of a window structureshowing the window frame circumscribing an opening devoid of glass andshowing a transparent or translucent patch for covering the opening.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the window frame of FIG. 27 showing thepatch placed on the window frame to cover the opening.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the window frame of FIG. 28 showing asecuring device holding the patch in place on the window frame.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the window frame of FIG. 29illustrating a release element applied to the window frame and depictinga shield device over the patch.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the window frame of FIG. 30 showing abody of unifying material applied to the patch in the vacant spacearound the shield device to form a cohesive mass.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the window frame of FIG. 31 with a lidof the shield device removed to expose a port in the cohesive mass in aported stabilized window structure.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of an alternative window frame of a windowstructure showing the window frame circumscribing an opening devoid ofglass and showing a transparent or translucent patch for being placed ina track of the window frame to cover the opening.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the window frame of FIG. 33 depictingthe patch placed in the track of the window frame to cover the opening.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the window frame of FIG. 34illustrating a release element applied to the window frame, analternative shield device disposed over the patch, and a body ofunifying material applied to the patch in the vacant space around thealternative shield device to form a cohesive mass.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the window frame of FIG. 35 showing theshield device removed to expose a port in the cohesive mass in a portedstabilized window structure.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a window structure having a windowframe circumscribing an opening covered by a transparent or translucentpatch and depicting an alternative shield device disposed on the patch.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the window frame of FIG. 37 showing abody of unifying material applied over the patch and the shield deviceto form a cohesive mass and depicting a section of the body of unifyingmaterial removed along with the shield device to expose a port in thecohesive mass.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view depicting ported stabilization of a windowstructure involving placement of a second patch over the body ofunifying material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to the stabilization of window structuresinstalled in fabrications or constructions such as buildings andvehicles. The present invention may be used on window structures of anytype including one or more panes disposed in an opening circumscribed bya window frame. The opening and frame may form or be disposed inexterior or interior walls or doors of the fabrication or constructionor may be free-standing, such as where the fabrications or constructionsare showers, telephone booths, glass cubicles, tanks and the like. Thewindow structure may include one or more tracks receiving a peripheraledge of the one or more window panes. The panes may be flat or planar ormay have curved or other non-planar shapes or profiles. The window framemay be constructed separately from the fabrication or construction as aframe member including one or more parts, or may be formed integrally,unitarily with the fabrication or construction. As an example of thelatter, the frame may be formed by any peripheral edge, border orsurface circumscribing an opening in which one or more panes is/areinstalled or intended to be installed, and this edge, border or surfacecan be provided with or without a trim or finish. The one or more tracksmay be formed by, on or in the window frame and/or the fabrication orconstruction, and typically includes a groove receiving the peripheraledge of the one or more window panes. The window structure may includeone or more vertical and/or horizontal mullions dividing the openinginto separate sections, each receiving a window pane. In the lattercase, the mullions may include tracks receiving peripheral edges of thewindow panes. The tracks can be made as separate pieces, or can beformed integrally, unitarily with the window frame, the fabrication orconstruction and/or the mullions. Representative window structuresinclude sash windows, casement windows, sliding windows, sliding glassdoors, slidably or pivotally movable windows, non-movable windows, fixedwindows, movable windows, protruding windows, recessed windows and thelike in fabrications or constructions of any type including but notlimited to houses, stores, office buildings, banks, car dealerships,schools, museums, showers, telephone booths, cubicles, decorative andfunctional partitions, doors, tanks, aquariums, cars, trucks, buses,trains, boats, ships, submarines, planes and spacecraft. Fabricationsand constructions to which the present invention applies includecommercial, residential, governmental and recreational fabrications orconstructions. The one or more panes will typically be made of glass,but may be made of any brittle material susceptible to being shattered,broken or cracked. Accordingly, the term “glass” as used herein shouldbe considered illustrative only and is intended to encompass any type ofwindow pane material. In addition, as used herein, “glass” is intendedto include various types of glass including treated plate glass,untreated glass, tempered glass, laminated glass, single pane glass,double pane glass, etc.

FIG. 1 illustrates a building 10 having a window structure 12 includinga glass window pane 14 mounted in a window frame 16. The window pane 14is planar and is disposed in an opening of the building 10, with theframe 16 circumscribing the opening. The window structure 12 is shown inan exterior wall of building 10, but may form or be located in anyexterior or interior component of building 10. The window pane 14 isshattered, broken or cracked, and has one or more cracks, fissures orfractures 18 therein, which may extend through the entire or less thanthe entire thickness of window pane 14. Depending on the severity ofdamage, the one or more cracks 18 may have broken the window pane 14into individual fragments as shown by fragment 19. The crackscircumscribing fragment 19 extend through the entire thickness of pane14 such that fragment 19 is separated from and not attached to thesurrounding glass. Fragment 19 has not yet fallen or otherwise becomeloose from the remainder of the window pane 14, but is at risk offalling or otherwise becoming loose from the remainder of the windowpane so as to leave a hole therein, particularly if force or pressure isapplied to the window pane. Even where the damage to the window pane 14has produced cracks without individual fragments, the shattered windowpane 14 is nonetheless susceptible to collapsing or caving in due to itsown weight and/or extraneous force or pressure thereon. The windowstructure 12 thusly presents a great risk that fragments or pieces ofthe window pane 14 will fall away from the window structure. Wherefragments or pieces of the window pane 14 fall to the exterior ofbuilding 10, people and/or objects in the vicinity thereof maybeinjured, particularly where the window structure 12 is located at anelevated level or floor. Accordingly, the presence of shattered pane 14is particularly problematic in urban areas, as are typicallycharacterized by tall or high-rise buildings and significant pedestrianactivity. The one or more cracks 18 also compromise the barrier or sealnormally provided by the window structure 12 when the window pane 14 isunbroken. The one or more cracks 18 permit communication between theexterior and the interior sides of the window structure 12 such thatenvironmental elements may reach the building interior. In addition,people and/or objects in the building interior may suffer harm in theevent that fragments or pieces of window pane 14 fall into the interiorof the building 10. Accordingly, the window structure 12 shown in FIG. 1may be considered unstable or destabilized due to compromise of thestructural integrity and/or compromise of the barrier or seal normallyprovided when the window pane 14 is not shattered, cracked or broken.

In accordance with the present invention, the window structure 12 isstabilized by applying a layer or body of cohesive or unifying material20 to the shattered window pane 14 to adhere thereto and form theshattered pane into a cohesive mass. Fig. I illustrates unifyingmaterial 20 comprising a polymeric foam being applied in fluidic form tothe exterior surface of the window pane 14 over cracks 18. However, theunifying material may be applied to the exterior surface and/or theinterior surface of the window pane 14 depending on the location of thewindow structure, the accessibility of the window structure, the extentof damage to the window pane and/or other factors. The unifying material20 may be applied to the window pane 14 in any manner, but is preferablysprayed on the window pane as shown in Fig. I so that the force orpressure exerted on the window pane during the application process isminimized. In addition, the force or pressure on the window pane isinsignificant due to the negligible weight and pressure exerted on thewindow pane by the unifying material during and after the applicationprocess. When the unifying material 20 is sprayed on the window pane 14as shown in FIG. 1, the force or pressure exerted on the window pane isminimal such that the fragment 19 does not become loose and the windowpane does not collapse or cave in. Depending on the location andaccessibility of the window structure 12, the unifying material 20 canbe sprayed from a hand-held spraying device 22 or from a remotelycontrolled spraying device mounted on an extendable pole or handle.

The unifying material 20 is applied to the window pane 14 in a layer 21in the procedure illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Preferably, the layer 21of unifying material 20 is applied to the entire or substantially theentire surface area of the window pane exterior surface and/or interiorsurface exposed by frame 16 and selected to receive the layer ofunifying material. However, depending on the damage to the window pane,the layer of unifying material may be applied to only a cracked, brokenor shattered section or sections of the window pane and may thusly beapplied to only a selected portion or portions of the window paneexterior surface and/or interior surface corresponding to the cracked,broken or shattered section or sections. The layer 21 of unifyingmaterial may be applied to a desired thickness sufficient tostructurally unite the shattered pane into a cohesive mass as explainedfurther below. Typical thicknesses may be in the range of ⅛ inch to oneinch thick or more, with layers of greater thickness typically beingused on window panes of relatively greater thickness, weight and/orexternal size. In illustrative procedures, a layer of polymeric foamunifying material I to 6 inches thick was found sufficient for ashattered glass pane ⅜ inch thick, and a foam layer about ¾ inch thickworked well on a shattered window pane 3/16 inch thick. The thickness oflayer 21 may be uniform or non-uniform. Depending on the width of cracks18, the fluidic unifying material may seep into or enter one or more ofthe cracks 18, and the unifying material may seep into one or morecracks the entire or less than the entire depth of the one or morecracks. Accordingly, the fluidic unifying material may seep into one ormore cracks 18 so that fragments or shards, such as fragment 19, of pane14 are embedded in the unifying material.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are representative of a stabilized window structure andFIGS. 1-3 are representative of a stabilizing procedure wherein thelayer 21 of unifying material 20 is applied to substantially the entiresurface area of the exterior surface of window pane 14 exposed by frame16. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the layer 21 of unifying material 20 applied towindow pane 14 inside of frame 16 without any overlap of the layer 21 ofunifying material on the frame 16. In order to ensure that no unifyingmaterial is applied over frame 16, a small peripheral gap or border 23may be maintained during the application process between the frame 16and the perimeter of the layer 21 as shown in FIG. 3. Avoiding overlapof the frame 16 by the layer 21 of unifying material 20 ensures that thelayer of unifying material does not bond or adhere to the frame, therebyfacilitating removal of the window pane 14 from the frame 16 asdescribed further below. It should be appreciated that the layer 21 ofunifying material 20 may overlap the frame 16 and, if needed, a suitablerelease element can be disposed over frame 16 between the frame and theunifying material to prevent or inhibit the unifying material 20 frombonding or adhering to the frame 16. The release element may include achemical agent or composition and/or a physical or mechanical barrier.Suitable release elements are disclosed in applicant's prior U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/362,890 filed Jul. 29, 1999, and now U.S. Pat.No. 6,289,642 B1, Ser. No. 09/878,214 filed Jun. 12, 2001, Ser. No.09/880,774 filed Jun. 15, 2001 and Ser. No. 09/920,750 filed Aug. 3,2001, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference. Suitable release elements include, but are not limited to,silicone, hydrocarbons of relevant molecular weight, petroleum basedrelease agents, alcohols, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons,halogenated solvents, glycol ethers, methyl ethyl ketones, xylene,d-limonene, phthalates, benzoates, releasable tape, polyurethane, andpolyethylene film. Of course, it may be desirable that the releaseelement not be disposed over a significant portion of the glass pane 14so that the surface area of pane 14 that is bonded to the unifyingmaterial may be maximized.

It is preferred that the layer 21 cover each crack 18 in its entirety orsubstantially in its entirety. FIG. 2 illustrates the cracks 18 in theirentireties covered by layer 21. In some cases, however, such as where acrack meets frame 16, it may not be feasible for the layer 21 to coverthe crack in its entirety, such as due to the need to maintain aperipheral gap between the frame and the perimeter of the layer.Accordingly, the layer 21 should cover a substantial portion of the oneor more cracks 18 and, preferably, should cover as much as possible ofcracks 18. However, it should be appreciated that crack coverage mayvary depending on the particular application presented during use.

Subsequent to being applied to the window pane 14, the layer 21 ofpolymeric unifying material 20 reacts, cures, dries, sets, hardens,rigidifies or solidifies quickly to form the shattered pane 14 into acohesive, unified or integral mass 24 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Itshould be appreciated that the use of any one term, or its derivative,from the set of terms including “reacts”, “cures”, “dries”, “sets”,“hardens”, “rigidifies” and “solidifies” and the like encompasses theentire set of terms and its derivatives. The layer 21 of polymericunifying material 20, when cured, is a solidified compressible materialto which the window pane 14 including any individual fragments, such asfragment 19 and even the tiniest of fragments, are bonded or adhered.Although the layer 21 of unifying material 20 is shown as being flat orsmooth along its outer, exposed surface and as being of uniformthickness, the layer of unifying material may be non-flat or non-smoothand may be of non uniform thickness. Typically, the outer surface ofpolymeric unifying material 20 will be covered with small bumps aftercuring. Where the unifying material 20 has entered a crack 18 as shownin FIG. 4, a structural or mechanical bond is created at the crack whenthe unifying material solidifies. In FIG. 4, the crack 18 extendsthrough the entire thickness of window pane 14, and the unifyingmaterial 20 extends into the crack 18 from the exterior surface to theinterior surface of window pane 14. FIG. 4 is thusly illustrative of theunifying material 20 extending the entire depth of the crack as well asthe entire thickness of pane 14. However, the crack depth and panethickness to which the unifying material extends may vary in accordancewith the crack width, the crack depth, the viscosity of the fluidicunifying material and/or other factors. The unifying material 20 isdesirably very adhesive to ensure a strong bond with the window pane 14so that the layer 21 of polymeric unifying material 20 is permanently orsubstantially permanently bonded, adhered or attached to the windowpane. Accordingly, the window pane does not become detached from thelayer of polymeric material when extraneous forces are applied to thecohesive mass during removal from frame 16, during disposal and/or whilethe cohesive mass is allowed to remain in place in frame 16 prior toremoval. The strong bond between the layer of unifying material and thewindow pane also allows the cohesive mass to be removed from frame 16 bypulling as explained further below, although the cohesive mass can beremoved by pulling and/or pushing as also explained further below.

The polymeric unifying material 20 may include a polyurethane or anysprayable polymeric material that foams upon application to the windowpane so that the polymeric material remains in place as it is applied.FIG. 3 illustrates the polymeric unifying material 20 as a polymericfoam material. Polymeric foams are generally very adhesive by nature andthus ensure adequate bonding to the window pane so that no fragmentsseparate from the cohesive mass 24 during its removal. It should beappreciated, however, that the unifying material may be a non-foamingpolymeric material, such as a non-foam polymeric film, as describedfurther below. It should be further appreciated that the layer 21 can bepre-formed and then subsequently bonded or adhered to the window panewith a suitable adhesive or bonding agent, and the unifying material 20may be used as the adhesive or bonding agent. Various polymeric foamscan be used in the present invention including those disclosed inapplicant's prior patent applications previously incorporated herein byreference. Examples of polymeric foam materials that may be utilized inthe present invention include polyethylene, such as Ethafoam of DowChemical Company, polystyrene, polyurethane and copolymers of theforegoing.

Use of a polymeric foam for the unifying material results in a spongy,three dimensional, compressible, elastomeric web pattern with open orclosed cells or pores, sometimes containing entrapped gas for energyabsorption. Accordingly, the layer 21 of polymeric unifying material 20can absorb energy from impacts sustained prior to, during, andsubsequent to removal of the cohesive mass 24. In addition, the layer 21of polymeric material 20 is deformable so as to allow the cohesive mass24 to resiliently bend, flex, cave in or buckle along the relativelyweaker areas defined by the one or more cracks 18, thereby facilitatingremoval of the cohesive mass from the window frame. The presentinvention is not limited to polymeric materials in that variousnon-polymeric materials capable of unifying a shattered window pane intoa cohesive mass may be utilized as the unifying material.

In accordance with the present invention, one or more grasping membersmay be attached to the cohesive mass 24 for use in grasping the cohesivemass to facilitate removal thereof, although the cohesive mass can beremoved without the use of grasping members. FIG. 2 illustrates a pairof grasping members 26 attached to the cohesive mass 24 by the polymericunifying material 20, which acts as a bonding agent or adhesive for thegrasping members. The grasping members 26 are formed as handles,respectively, each having opposing ends 28 embedded in the layer 21 ofpolymeric unifying material 20 and an elongate grasping portion 30extending between ends 28 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The ends 28 may beembedded or pushed into the layer 21 of polymeric unifying material 20before it fully cures, with the grasping portion 30 maintainedexternally and free of the layer of polymeric unifying material. Ifnecessary, such as where the thickness of the layer 21 is insufficientto firmly secure the ends 28, additional polymeric unifying material 20may be added at the attachment sites for ends 28 to increase thethickness and, therefore, the securing strength, of the polymericmaterial at the attachment sites. When the polymeric material 20 hasfinally cured, the ends 28 will be bonded or adhered to the polymericmaterial, and the grasping members 26 will be attached to the cohesivemass.

The handles can be made of any suitable material including plastic,metal, cardboard, paper, string and wood. Where additional unifyingmaterial is applied to the layer 21 for securement of the graspingmembers, the additional unifying material can be applied before and/orafter the layer 21 has finally cured. Also, the layer 21 and theadditionally applied unifying material can be used individually or incombination to secure the grasping members to the cohesive mass in thatthe handle ends can be embedded or inserted in the layer 21 and/or inthe additionally applied unifying material. The grasping members 26formed as handles can be cut or fabricated to have a desired length suchthat the length of the handles is adjustable. The length of the handlesmay also be adjusted by controlling the length of ends 28 that isembedded in the unifying material. By allowing the grasping members 26to be attached in situ, the optimal locations for the grasping memberscan be selected in accordance with variables such as location of thewindow structure, accessibility of the window structure, and size,configuration and/or weight of the window pane. Where the layer ofpolymeric unifying material is pre-formed and not formed in situ,grasping members can be attached thereto in situ or during the layerformation process. The grasping members can be secured to the cohesivemass in various ways including the use of other adhesives or bondingagents and/or mechanical securing elements such as clips and the like.The ends of the grasping members may be flat or can have any desiredshape, and may be secured directly to the window pane via adhesivesand/or mechanical securing elements as explained further below. In thelatter case, the grasping members may be attached to the window panesurface selected to receive the unifying material and/or to a surface ofthe window pane devoid of unifying material as explained in furtherdetail below.

The polymeric unifying material 20 may be supplied as a one-componentsupply system, as shown by FIG. 1, or as a two-component supply system,as explained further below. In the one-component supply system of FIG.1, mixing takes place in a tank or container 34 of spraying device 22,which has a discharge device or nozzle 36 for spraying or dischargingthe fluidic polymeric material from the container 34. As an example of aone-component supply system, container 34 contains a polymeric blendsuch as a polymeric polyol, polyurethane prepolymer and a polymerichydrocarbon propellant to be discharged as a foam from delivery device36.

The nozzle 36 may be designed to emit the polymeric unifying material ina broad or narrow discharge pattern depending on the coverage needed fora particular application. Where the polymeric unifying material is tocover a relatively large surface area, as shown in FIG. 1, it ispreferred that the nozzle be designed, for example, as a wide fan spaynozzle, to provide a broad discharge pattern to reduce the time requiredto cover a large surface area. Where the polymeric unifying material isto be applied to a relatively narrow or constricted surface area, suchas to window pane fragments along a track of a window frame as explainedbelow, it is preferred that the nozzle be designed, for example, as anarrow band nozzle, to provide greater control and targeting of thepolymeric unifying material. The supply system for the polymericmaterial can be provided with a nozzle having a discharge patternadapted for a particular application, and different supply systemshaving nozzles with different discharge patterns for differentapplications can be made available to users. Alternatively, the supplysystem can be provided with a multi-functional nozzle capable ofselectively generating different discharge patterns so that a singlesupply system can be used for different applications. As a furtheralternative, a plurality of nozzles having different discharge patternscan be provided with or made available for interchangeable use with thesupply system.

It should be appreciated that the layer or body of unifying material 20can be applied in any desired shape or formation depending on theparticular application. Accordingly, the terms “layer” and “body” areused interchangeably to encompass any desired deposition or formation ofmaterial including broad and narrow depositions made up of a singlelayer, thickness or coat of uniform or non-uniform thickness or ofmultiple sub-layers, sub-thicknesses or sub-coats of uniform ornon-uniform thicknesses applied sequentially one on top of the other asdescribed further below.

Once the polymeric unifying material 20 applied to window pane 14 hascured sufficiently, which may occur within a few minutes afterapplication, the window structure 12 may be considered stabilized inthat formation of the shattered pane 14 into cohesive mass 24 restoresstructural integrity and sealing functionality to the window pane. Thewindow pane 14 will then be in condition for safe removal as part of thecohesive mass, which may be removed as one piece or as a plurality ofrelatively large pieces. However, since the window structure 12 isstabilized, the window pane 14 does not have to be removed immediatelybut can remain in place until a suitable replacement pane and/orconvenient time for replacement is/are available. The polymeric unifyingmaterial 20 is water-repellant and resistant to degradation or damagefrom environmental elements and can remain exposed to weather conditionssuch as rain, snow, sun and wind. While the window pane 14 remains inplace, the window pane as well as people and objects disposed to theexterior and/or the interior sides of the window structure are protectedfrom injury and damage. In particular, collapsing or caving in of thewindow pane is inhibited, glass fragments and shards such as fragment 19are bonded or embedded in the polymeric unifying material and cannotbecome loose, and the passage of environmental elements through theglass pane is deterred due to the barrier or seal provided by thecohesive mass. It should be understood that the terms “barrier” and“seal”, and their derivatives, are used interchangeably and that “seal”and its derivatives encompass complete and partial seals.

The window pane 14 may be safely removed to the exterior of building 10by pulling the cohesive mass 24 in the exterior direction from the frame16 as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the cohesive mass is manually pulled viahands holding grasping members 26. As the cohesive mass 24 is pulled, itmay resiliently flex, bend, deform or cave in, as needed, along therelatively weakened areas of the cohesive mass presented at cracks 18 topermit disengagement of the window pane 14 from frame 16. If necessary,the cohesive mass 24 may be hit adjacent to frame 16 with a hammer orother tool, a tool may be inserted between the window pane 14 and theframe 16 and/or a glass punch or cutting tool may be used to separate,disengage and/or cut the window pane 14 from the frame 16 and/or thefabrication or construction and, typically, from the track of the windowstructure. Various tools or implements employed in various ways can beused for the latter purposes. As shown in FIG. 5, the cohesive mass 24,including the layer 21 of unifying material 20 and the window pane 14bonded thereto, may be removed as a single, integral and unitary piece.However, the cohesive mass 24 may be selectively removed as a pluralityof relatively large, integral and unitary pieces of cohesive mass 24,with each piece including a section of the layer 21 and a correspondingsection of window pane 14 aft ached thereto. In either case, the windowpane remains attached to the layer of unifying material during andsubsequent to removal such that glass fragments or shards do not becomeseparated or detached. Where it is desired to remove the window pane asmore than one piece of cohesive mass 24, such as where the window paneis too large and/or too heavy to remove as a single piece, the cohesivemass may be cut into a plurality of pieces prior to removal. Thecohesive mass 24 may be cut into a plurality of pieces by cuttingthrough the layer 21 and through pane 14 to obtain a plurality ofseparately removable pieces of cohesive mass 24 and each piece of thecohesive mass may be associated with one or more grasping member. Toavoid the need for cutting through the window pane, pre-existing cracksor fissures of the window pane can be used to delineate the pieces ofthe cohesive mass so that the layer of unifying material need only becut through along the one or more pre-existing cracks or fissures.Depending on the pattern or arrangement of pre-existing cracks in windowpane 14, the cracks themselves may be used to define the formation ofseparately removable cohesive masses as described in detail below. Whenthe cohesive mass 24 is removed from frame 16 as shown in FIG. 5, thecohesive mass may remain as a single, integral unit during transport toa disposal site. Similarly, where the cohesive mass is removed as morethan one piece, each piece may remain intact as a single, integral unit.

Although the cohesive mass 24 is shown herein as being removed to theexterior side of the window structure by a single, exteriorly locatedperson pulling the cohesive mass in the exterior direction, it should beappreciated that the cohesive mass can be removed to the exterior sideor to the interior side of the window structure as one or more pieces byone or more persons in various ways, such as by pulling and/or pushingthe cohesive mass, with or without the use of grasping members. Pullingand/or pushing of the cohesive mass can be performed using the hands orvarious conventional tools. Where no grasping members are provided, thecohesive mass can merely be pushed to the interior side or to theexterior side of the window structure. Subsequent to being removed fromthe window frame 12 and the fabrication or construction, i.e. building10, the cohesive mass 24 including window pane 14 thereof can be safelyhandled and transported to a disposal site.

FIG. 6 illustrates a stabilized window structure 112, similar to windowstructure 12, including a layer 121 of non-foam unifying material 120applied to the exterior surface of a broken window pane 114. The windowpane 114 is mounted in frame 116 and has cracks 118 therein. The layer121 of unifying material 120 may be applied, such as by spraying, towindow pane 114 in fluidic form as described above and, upon drying,curing, hardening or setting of the unifying material 120, a cohesivemass 124 is formed including the layer 121 of unifying material 120 andthe window pane 114 adhered thereto. Illustrative non-foam unifyingmaterials, which may be polymers or non-polymers, suitable for use inthe present invention include cellulosic and polymer films such aspolyvinyl, latex, polyurethane, acrylate such as acrylic latex,cellophane and other polymers, and cellulosics or composites. Anotherrepresentative foam material is Acrylic Latex sold by Dow ChemicalCompany.

A stabilized window structure 212 in which first and second layers 221and 221′ of unifying material 220 have been applied to both the exteriorand interior surfaces, respectively, of window pane 214 having cracks218 therein is shown in FIG. 7. Unifying material 220 is similar tounifying material 20, and each layer 221 and 221′ is made up of multiplesub-layers or coats of unifying material 220 as shown by first andsecond sub-layers 221 a and 221 b for layer 221 and sub-layers 221 a′and 221 b′ for layer 221′. The sub-layers for each layer 221 and 221′may be applied sequentially, one on top of the other, after at leastpartial curing of the underlying sub-layer. Applying layers 221 and 221′of unifying material to both the exterior and interior surfaces ofwindow pane 214 enhances the seal and structural integrity provided bythe cohesive mass 224, which includes window pane 214 and layers 221 and221′ adhered thereto. More particularly, the shattered window pane 214is sealed, confined or encapsulated between the layers 221 and 221′, andthe layers 221 and 221′ provide additional assurance that glassfragments will not become detached from the cohesive mass 224. Althoughthe layers 221 and 221′ are illustrated as being similar to layer 21, itshould be appreciated that multiple sub-layers of unifying materialsimilar to layer 121 can be applied to the exterior and/or interiorsurfaces, respectively, of a shattered window pane. As shown by dottedlines for layer 221, the layers of unifying material may be ofnon-uniform or varying thickness.

A two-component supply system for use in the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 8. The two-component supply system includes a firstsupply tank or container 334 a containing component A, such as apolymeric polyol, a second supply tank or container 334 b containingcomponent B, such as disocyanate, and a mixing head 338 which staticallyblends and reacts components A and B under pressure from a propellant340 for delivery of polymeric unifying material 320 in fluidic formthrough discharge device or nozzle 336. The disocyanate and thepolymeric polymer are mixed under the propellant's pressure and sprayedonto a shattered window pane 314. Foaming will start as soon as thepolymeric blend is deposited on the window pane 314, and a desiredpolymeric foam thickness may be achieved. As noted above, additionalsub-layers or coats can be applied for extra protection. A catalyst canbe added to the supply system if it is desired to decrease curing time.The one-component supply system of Fig. I is similar with the exceptionthat a higher viscosity polyurethane prepolymer is used that is moisturecured by atmospheric humidity. Examples of suitable two-component supplysystems are the Froth Pak® system of the Dow Chemical Company ofMidland, Mich. and Handi-Foam® of Fomo Products, Inc.

FIGS. 9-11 illustrate a procedure for stabilizing a window structure 412having a shattered window pane 414 that is missing one or morefragments. As a result of the one or more missing fragments, window pane414 has a hole, opening or void 442 therein. In accordance with thepresent invention, a first layer 421 of unifying material 420 is appliedto the exterior or interior surface of window pane 414 around theperimeter of hole 442 as shown in FIG. 9, which illustrates the firstlayer 421 of unifying material 420 being sprayed onto the exteriorsurface of window pane 414. The unifying material can be a foam ornon-foam polymer, a cellulosic material or any other suitable unifyingmaterial. A patch 444, larger than the hole 442, is positioned over thehole 442 and is adhered to the unifying material as shown in FIG. 10.The patch 444 will bond to the unifying material around the perimeter ofhole 442 and thusly close off the hole 442. Once the layer 421 ofunifying material 420 has cured sufficiently so that the patch 444 isbonded, adhered or secured to the window pane 414, a second oradditional layer of unifying material 421′ is applied over the patch, asshown in FIG. 11, to provide structural integrity and a seat for thehole 442. The second layer 421′ bonds to the first layer 421, to thepatch 444 and to the window pane 414 to form a cohesive mass.Preferably, the second layer 421′ of unifying material is applied to anarea larger than the patch 444 so that the edges of the patch arecovered and thereby sealed. The seal provided by the additional layer421′ of unifying material deters the entry of water and otherenvironmental elements through the hole 442. The patch 444 may be cut tosize during use and may be made of any suitable material including, butnot limited to, cotton and synthetic fabrics, plastics, paper, rubber,metal, wood, cellulose and foam. Of course, one or more layers ofunifying material, with or without a patch, may also be applied to theinterior surface of the window pane 414 for additional protection. Also,the patch 444 does not have to be secured to the window pane using theunifying material, since the patch can be self-securing or may besecured using interior surface of windshield 514, the window structure512 is stabilized due to the barrier provided by the cohesive mass andthe structural integrity that is restored to the windshield. Innon-emergency situations, the damaged windshield can safely remain inplace prior to and while awaiting installation of a replacementwindshield, and the vehicle interior will be protected fromenvironmental elements. Of course, it should be appreciated that holespresent in the window panes of vehicles can be patched as describedabove for window structure 412.

To remove shattered windshield 514, the grasping members 526 are graspedfrom the exterior side of automobile 511, and the cohesive mass 524 ispulled in the exterior direction as shown in FIG. 13. The cracks 518 inwindshield 514 permit the cohesive mass 524 to resiliently deform,buckle, cave in, bend or flex along the relatively weaker areas definedby cracks 518 so that the windshield 514 is disengaged from the frame516. If the windshield 514 is not cracked or shattered sufficiently topermit the cohesive mass 524 to deform to the extent necessary todisengage the windshield from frame 516, the windshield can be heldsubstantially in place by one or more persons via grasping members 526while a force is applied to the edges of the windshield in the interiordirection, as shown by arrows in FIG. 12. The force applied to the edgesof the windshield 514 may be applied using a window punch or anothersuitable tool, and an interiorly directed force may be applied to theedges of the windshield at various locations adjacent to the frame 516as shown by the arrows of FIG. 12. In this way, the edge of windshield514 may be disengaged from the frame 516, but the windshield isprevented from falling into the automobile interior by the exteriorlydirected counter force applied via grasping members other adhesives. Anexample of a self-securing patch is one having an adhesive backing. Itshould also be appreciated that, depending on the size of the hole, thepatch may include a single patch member covering the hole in itsentirety, or may include a plurality of patch members arranged to coverthe entirety of the hole.

An automobile 511 having a window structure 512 stabilized in accordancewith the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 12. Window structure512 includes a frame 516 and a shattered windshield 514 of non-planarconfiguration mounted in frame 516; however, the present invention isapplicable to various fixed and slidable or other movable windows invehicles. The present invention is useful for stabilizing and removingshattered vehicle windows in emergency and non-emergency situations, butis particularly useful in emergency situations where a vehicle windowmust be quickly removed to access one or more passengers in the interiorof the vehicle without pushing glass fragments into the interior andcausing injury to the one or more passengers. As shown in FIG. 12, alayer 521 of unifying material 520 is applied to the exterior surface ofwindshield 514 over cracks 518 and forms cohesive mass 524 including theshattered windshield 514 and the layer 521 adhered or bonded thereto. InFIG. 12, the layer 521 of unifying material 520 is shown applied to theentire exterior surface of windshield 514 exposed by frame 516, with thelayer 521 conforming to the curvature of the windshield 514. Also,grasping members 526 in the form of handles have been secured tocohesive mass 524. Where access to the interior of the vehicle ispossible, such as in non-emergency situations, a layer 521 of polymericmaterial 520 can be applied to the interior surface and/or to theexterior surface of windshield 514. With a layer 521 applied to eitheror both of the exterior surface and 526. The edges of the windshield canbe disengaged in various ways using various tools or implements,including those for cutting.

FIG. 14 illustrates a window structure 612 having two intersectingcracks 618 a and 618 b dividing window pane 614 into three separate anddisconnected window pane sections 614 a, 614 b and 614 c. One or more ofthe window pane sections 614 a, 614 b and 614 c may have cracks, holesor fissures therein, and such cracks, holes or fissures may divide theone or more window pane sections into separate and disconnectedfragments. FIG. 14 illustrates window pane section 614 a with a hole 642therein of a size suitable to be patched, plugged or filled by theunifying material itself without the need for a separate patch andillustrates window pane section 614 c with a crack 618 c that may or maynot divide window pane section 614 c into separate and discontinuousfragments. FIG. 14 also illustrates grasping members 626 secureddirectly to the window pane 614. Grasping members 626 each have flatends 628 provided with securing elements 629 for securement to windowpane 614 for each window pane section, respectively, and graspingportion 630 extending between ends 628. The securing elements 629 forgrasping members 626 include layers of adhesive on the flattened ends628, respectively. The grasping members 626 are shown in FIG. 14 securedto the surface of window pane 614 selected to receive the unifyingmaterial, the grasping members being secured to the exterior surface ofwindow pane 614 in the illustrated embodiment. Where the graspingmembers are secured to the surface of the window pane selected toreceive the unifying material, the grasping members will typically besecured to the window pane prior to application of the unifying materialto the selected surface. However, the grasping members could be securedto the window pane during or after application of the unifying materialthereto by inserting the ends through the unifying material to contactthe window pane, as would typically be done before the unifying materialfully cures. Depending on the design of the securing elements, thegrasping members may be secured directly to the unifying material afterit has fully cured. The grasping members 626 can be secured to thewindow pane sections 614 a, 614 b and 614 c, respectively, at anysuitable locations selected by the glass remover. Grasping members 626may alternatively or additionally be secured to the surface of windowpane 614 opposite the surface selected to receive the unifying material.To illustrate this, a grasping member 626′ is shown in doffed lines withits flat ends adhesively secured to the interior surface of window pane614 for window pane section 614 b. The grasping member 626′ is shownsecured to the interior surface of window pane section 614 b prior toapplication of the unifying material to the exterior surface, but can besecured to the interior surface of the window pane at any time before,during or after application of the unifying material, since the interiorsurface has not been selected to receive the unifying material. Ofcourse, where the interior surface of the window pane is alternativelyor additionally selected to receive the unifying material, the selectednumber of grasping members 626′ may be secured to the interior surfaceof the window pane prior to, during or after application of the unifyingmaterial thereto as described above for grasping members 626. Anothergrasping member 626″ is illustrated in FIG. 14 and includes a triangularshaped grasping portion 630″ attached to a securing element 629″. Thesecuring element 629″ for grasping member 626″ includes a suction cupfor direct attachment of the grasping member 626″ to the window panebefore, during or after application of the unifying material to thewindow pane.

A method of removing shattered window pane 614 is illustrated in FIGS.15 and 16, and is representative of a method in which pre-existingcracks in a damaged window pane are used to define, delineate, ordemarcate the formation of a plurality of separately removable cohesivemasses. FIG. 15 shows layers 621 a and 621 b of unifying material 620already applied to the exterior surface of window pane sections 614 aand 614 b, respectively, and a layer of unifying material 620 beingapplied to the exterior surface of window pane section 614 c. FIG. 16shows the layer 621 c of unifying material after being applied to windowpane section 614 c and shows window pane section 621 a, with layer 621 abonded thereto, removed from window structure 612. As shown in FIG. 15for window pane sections 614 a and 614 b and in FIG. 16 for window panesections 614 b and 614 c, the layers 621 a, 621 b and 621 c are appliedto window pane sections 614 a, 614 b and 614 c, respectively, leavingthe cracks 618 a and 618 b devoid of unifying material. Accordingly,margins are maintained between the layers of unifying material and thecorresponding cracks 61 8 a and 61 8 b, such that each crack 61 8 a and618 b forms a seam, not covered by the unifying material, at which thewindow pane sections remain separable and discontinuous from oneanother. In the procedure illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, margins arealso maintained between the layers of unifying material and the windowframe 616, such that each layer of unifying material is surrounded orcircumscribed by a peripheral gap or border of window pane 614 to whichunifying material is not applied. The unifying material forms cohesivemasses 624 a, 624 b and 624 c for each window pane section,respectively, with each cohesive mass including a layer of unifyingmaterial and the corresponding window pane section bonded thereto.

As can be seen from FIG. 15 for hole 642 and from FIG. 16 for crack 61 8c, the hole 642 and the crack 618 c are patched, plugged, covered orfilled in with the unifying material 620 as the layers 621 a and 621 cof unifying material 620 are applied, respectively, to the window pane,the unifying material serving to build the perimeter of hole 642inwardly until the hole is filled. Also, the ends of the graspingmembers 626 are embedded in the layers of unifying material 620 as theunifying material is applied to the window pane as explained above. Aseparate patch is not required for hole 642, although a patch may bedesirable and/or necessary to cover relatively large holes. Of course,where any or all of the window pane sections are divided intodisconnected fragments, such fragments will be unified or bondedtogether as part of the corresponding cohesive mass.

FIG. 16 illustrates cohesive mass 624 a removed from the windowstructure 612, and the cohesive masses 624 a, 624 b and 624 c can beremoved, in any of the manners described above, separately andindividually from one another, which is particularly advantageous wherethe weight and/or size of window pane 614 make it undesirable forremoval as one piece. If necessary, a glass punch or other suitable toolor implement may be used to separate the window pane sections fromwindow frame 616 and/or the fabrication or construction and, typically,from a track of window structure 612. Where only the grasping members626′ shown in FIG. 14 are provided for each window pane section, thegrasping members 626′ facilitate removal of the cohesive masses bypulling to the interior side of the window structure. Pulling of thecohesive masses in either direction is possible where grasping members626 and 626′ both are provided, and the cohesive masses can be removedby pushing in either direction, with or without the use of graspingmembers. Where pre-existing cracks in the damaged window pane do notdefine separately removable, disconnected sections, the window pane canbe formed into a single cohesive mass which can then be separated intoseparately removable pieces as already explained herein above. It shouldalso be appreciated that layers of unifying material can be applied tothe exterior and/or interior surfaces of the window pane sections.

In many cases of shattered window panes, the openings circumscribed bythe window frames are entirely or substantially entirely devoid of glassso as to present a sizable hole. A window structure 712 in which all ofthe window pane or glass is missing is shown in FIG. 17. Accordingly,window structure 712 has a hole 742 therein corresponding to the entireopening circumscribed by window frame 716. FIG. 17 also illustrateswindow structure 712 in the case where substantially all, but notentirely all, of the window pane or glass is missing, in thatinsubstantial portions of window pane 714 remain in window structure 712adjacent window frame 716 as shown in dotted lines. Where substantiallythe entire window pane 714 is missing, the window structure 712 stillhas a sizable hole 742′ shown in dotted lines. Where either hole 742 or742′ is present, the hole is too large to be filled using the unifyingmaterial alone. Accordingly, the window structure 712 is stabilized bycovering the entire opening with a patch. An optional release element745 is illustrated in FIG. 17 disposed over the exterior surface ofwindow frame 716 and may include any of the release elements previouslydescribed above.

The procedure for stabilizing window structure 712 is similar for holes742 and 742′, and is described herein for hole 742. The proceduredescribed herein utilizes two patch members to cover respective portionsof the opening; however, any number of patch members of variousgeometric configurations and sizes may be utilized. FIG. 18 illustratesa first patch member 744 a having an adhesive backing 743 and beingsecured via the adhesive backing to the exterior surface of frame 716such that the patch member 744 a covers the entire height of the openingand a little more than half the width of the opening. The top edge,bottom edge and left side edge of patch member 744 a are adhesivelysecured to window frame 716 and/or to release element 745 along the top,bottom and left sides of window frame 716. The patch member 744 apartially overlaps the window frame 716 and/or release element 745 alongthe top, bottom and left sides of window frame 716 such that a gap orborder of window frame 716 and/or release element 745 is exposed alongthe top, bottom and left side edges of patch member 744 a. The rightside edge of patch member 744 a spans the opening from top to bottom. Asecond patch member 744 b having an adhesive backing 743 is secured tothe exterior surface of window frame 716 such that the second patchmember 744 b covers the entire height of the opening and the remaininguncovered width of the opening as shown in FIG. 19. The second patchmember 744 b has top, bottom and right side edges adhesively secured towindow frame 716 and/or to release element 745 along the top, bottom andright sides of window frame 716. The patch member 744 b has a left sideedge that overlaps the right side edge of patch member 744 a and isadhesively secured thereto. The patch member 744 b partially overlapsthe frame 716 and/or the release element 745 along the top, bottom andright sides of frame 716, with a gap or border of frame 716 and/orrelease element 745 exposed along the top, bottom and right side edgesof patch member 744 b. The adjacent patch members 744 a and 744 b form apatch having a peripheral edge continuously secured to the window framealong the top, bottom, left and right sides of the window frame, and aperipheral gap or border 747 of window frame 716 and/or release element745 is disposed around the periphery of the patch. Where some glass ispresent in the opening, as shown in the case of the hole 742′, the patchmay be adhered to the glass if it is feasible to do so. Once the entireopening is covered by the patch, a body of unifying material 720 isapplied over the patch as also shown in FIG. 19.

As shown in FIG. 20, the unifying material 720 is applied over the patchas a layer 721 to form cohesive mass 724 including layer 721 and thepatch members 744 a and 744 b, shown in FIG. 19, bonded thereto.Preferably, the layer 721 covers the entire peripheral edge of the patchfor an enhanced seal. In the illustrated procedure, the layer 721overlaps the peripheral margin 747 of window frame 716 and/or releaseelement 745 partially or entirely. Of course, more than one layer ofunifying material can be provided over the patch, and one or more layersof unifying material can be provided on the exterior and/or the interiorsides of the patch. The window structure 712 is stabilized in FIG. 20,with the cohesive mass 724 providing structural integrity and a barrierbetween the exterior and interior sides of the window structure. Thecohesive mass 724 may remain in place until an intact window pane can beinstalled in frame 716.

The stabilized window structure and method depicted by FIGS. 18-20 areapplicable to any of the fabrications or constructions described above,including vehicles. In addition to stabilizing window structures inwhich window panes are missing due to damage, the method illustrated inFIGS. 18-20 is useful for covering unprotected openings in fabrications,such as buildings, under construction. In the latter case, openings inbuildings or other fabrications under construction can be closed off toprotect the interior until a window or other intended architecturalcomponent can be installed in the opening. The release element 745,where present, may be designed to allow the adhesive backing 743 and/orthe layer 721 of unifying material 720 to adhere to the window frame 716with sufficient force to avoid undesired detachment or separation of thecohesive mass from the frame 716, while permitting the cohesive mass tobe forcefully separated or detached from the frame 716 for removal ofthe cohesive mass without significant damage to the window frame. Thecohesive mass 724 can be removed in any of the manners described above.Where the patch has been adhered to glass present in the opening, theglass will become part of the cohesive mass and will be removedtherewith. Where the patch has not been adhered to glass present in theopening, such that some glass remains in the opening upon removal of thecohesive mass 724, a body of unifying material can be applied to theremaining glass to form a cohesive mass therewith which can then beremoved from the window structure.

It should be understood that the patch members 744 a and 744 b can beremovably secured or attached to the window frame 716 using the unifyingmaterial as an adhesive as previously described for window structure412. Accordingly, a quantity of unifying material 720 can be applied towindow frame 716 and, thereafter, the patch members 744 a and 744 b canbe positioned to cover the opening with the patch members secured to thewindow frame using the unifying material as an adhesive. Prior to thisstep, the window frame can be protected, if necessary, using a releaseelement. Where the unifying material is used to removably secure thepatch to the window frame, the unifying material can be applied to thewindow frame as a continuous peripheral band around hole 742 or as aplurality of individual, discrete deposits of material located at anysuitable locations on frame member 716. Where some glass is present inthe window frame, the unifying material optimally is applied to thisglass and the patch is secured thereto using the unifying material as anadhesive. Of course, adhesives other than the unifying material can beapplied to the window frame to removably secure the patch thereto. Wherethe patch members are provided with an adhesive backing, the adhesivebacking may cover the entire back surfaces of the patch members or aportion or portions of the back surfaces which come in contact with thewindow frame. Also, it should be appreciated that the patch and layer ofunifying material can be applied to the exterior and/or interior sidesof window structure 712. Grasping members can be secured to the cohesivemass 724 in any manner, such as being attached directly to the patchand/or the layer of unifying material, as shown in dotted lines bygrasping member 726. A layer of material of any type can be secured overthe layer of unifying material for additional protection, structuralstrength and/or enhanced visual appearance.

A modified stabilized window structure 812 is illustrated in explodedperspective view in FIG. 21. Window structure 812 is similar to windowstructure 712 and has window frame 816 circumscribing an openingentirely or substantially entirely devoid of glass to present a sizablehole 842. Window structure 812 is stabilized by covering the openingwith a pre-formed, pre-fabricated panel 848 made of polymeric materialwhich is lightweight and inexpensive and, preferably, made of polymericfoam material. In the stabilized window structure 812, the panel 848 isremovably secured over window frame 816 via a backing of adhesive 850 onat least a peripheral portion of the back surface of panel 848. However,the adhesive 850 could alternatively and/or additionally be applied tothe window frame 816. The adhesive 850 is preferably strong enough tosecure the panel 848 on the window frame 816 so long as the panel 848 isintended to remain in place over the opening, while allowing the panelto be forcefully removed or detached from the window structure withoutsignificant damage to the window structure. If needed, the exteriorsurface of window frame 816 to which the panel 848 is secured can beprotected with a suitable release element 845. The panel 848 canalternatively and/or additionally be removably secured to the windowstructure using one or more mechanical securing devices 849. Suitablepre-formed panels, securing devices and manners of securing the panelsto window structures are disclosed in Applicant's prior U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/878,214 previously incorporated herein byreference. Of course, it should be appreciated that the panel 848 can besecured on the interior or exterior sides of the window structure, and apanel 848 can be secured on each of the interior and exterior sides ofthe window structure. The panel 848 can easily be cut to fit the windowframe 816, and may include one or more grasping members 826. Thegrasping members 826 may be secured to the panel 848 by a user or may besecured to the panel 848 as part of the manufacturing process. The panel848 is left in place to stabilize window structure 812 until replacementglass can be installed. Once replacement glass is ready to be installedin the opening, the panel 848 is removed from the window structure bydetaching it from window frame 816. If needed, a knife or any suitabletool can be used to facilitate separation of the panel from the windowframe. If some glass is present in the opening, a body of unifyingmaterial can be applied to the glass to form a cohesive mass therewithwhich can then be removed from the window structures.

In any of the stabilized window structures described above, a protectivemember may be secured to the glass around the peripheral edge of thecohesive mass for the purpose of preventing or inhibiting a glass shardfrom piercing the unifying material in the event that the cohesive massis subjected to considerable force. The cohesive mass would thusly beprotected if a person or object forcefully impacted the cohesive mass.The protective member could include a film or sheet of polymeric orcellulosic material, a metal structure or mesh, or a film or sheet ofany other material having protective or barrier characteristics. Theprotective member can be secured to the glass, the cohesive mass and/orthe window frame in any various ways including use of the unifyingmaterial as an adhesive for the protective member. A protective memberis not likely to be needed in most cases, but may be useful for windowstructures located at a ground floor or elevation.

FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate a window structure 912 having a window frame916 circumscribing an opening and having a vertical mullion 954 and ahorizontal mullion 956 dividing the opening into four sections or parts,each receiving a window pane 914 a, 914 b, 914 c and 914 d,respectively. Each window pane has two vertical sides and two horizontalsides, and is mounted along one of its vertical sides to verticalmullion 954, along one of its horizontal sides to horizontal mullion956, and along the other of its vertical and horizontal sides to windowframe 916. Each window pane is mounted by having its peripheral edgedisposed in a track 958 of window structure 912 as best shown in FIG. 23for window pane 914 a. The track 958 for each window pane is formed bygrooves or slots 960 in window frame 916, vertical mullion 954 andhorizontal mullion 956. In the case of window pane 914 a, for example,the edge of the left vertical side of window pane 914 a is received in agroove 960 in the left side of frame 916, the edge of the right verticalside of window pane 914 a is received in a groove 960 in verticalmullion 954, the edge of the top horizontal side of window pane 914 a isreceived in a groove 960 in horizontal mullion 956, and the edge of thebottom horizontal side of window pane 914 a is received in a groove 960in the bottom side of frame 916, with each groove 960 cooperating toform the track 958 for window pane 914 a. The arrangement represented bywindow structure 912 of a window pane mounted in a track of windowstructure is generally applicable to any type of window structure, withor without mullions, including the window structures described above.The window pane 914 a is shattered as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, andcomprises shards or fragments 962 of window pane 914 a jutting from itstrack 958.

A method for safely removing the window pane fragments 962 from track958 is shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. FIG. 24 illustrates a body of unifyingmaterial 920 being applied to the fragments 962 as a band, strip or beadextending along track 958 for window pane 914 a. In particular, FIG. 24shows the body of unifying material 920 being applied to the fragments962 disposed in the groove 960 in the left and bottom sides of frame916, and the unifying material is applied in a similar manner to thefragments disposed in the grooves of the horizontal and verticalmullions. The unifying material 920 is applied from a container 934using a narrow band nozzle 936, and the unifying material may be appliedin a continuous or unbroken band, strip or bead of desired length. Ifdesired or necessary, the track 958 and/or window frame 916 can beprotected by applying a release element thereto to prevent or inhibitbonding of the unifying material to the track and/or the window frame.Upon drying, setting, hardening, rigidifying or curing, the unifyingmaterial 920 forms a cohesive mass 924 including the unifying material920 and the fragments 962 bonded thereto as shown in FIG. 25. The curedunifying material covers the sharp edges and/or points of the shards andthusly protects against injury or damage. The cohesive mass 924 can thenbe withdrawn from the window structure 912, with the fragments 962 beingremoved from the track 958 as the cohesive mass 924 is withdrawn. Thecohesive mass 924 can be withdrawn or removed in any suitable manner,such as by grasping and pulling an end 963 of the band, strip or bead topull the cohesive mass away from the frame 916 so that the fragments areextracted from the track 958. Prior to removing the cohesive mass 924,the fragments 962 can be separated from the track 958 by inserting aknife 964 or other tool into the groove 960 to break the adhesive bondbetween the window pane and its track as typically found in manyconventional window structures. All of the fragments 962 for window pane914 a can be removed as part of a single, continuous band, strip or beadof unifying material, i.e., a single cohesive mass, as a plurality ofpieces of the single cohesive mass, or as a plurality of separatelyremovable cohesive masses. Pieces of the single cohesive mass can beobtained by cutting the cohesive mass into separate pieces. Separatelyremovable cohesive masses may be obtained by applying the unifyingmaterial in separate, disconnected bands, strips or beads to formseparate cohesive masses utilizing pre-existing cracks or breaks betweenadjacent shards to delineate the separate cohesive masses.

FIG. 26 is representative of a stabilized window structure and method ofstabilizing a window structure wherein pre-formed panels of polymericfoam material are used as patch members, and wherein the patch membersare disposed over an opening of the window structure without beingplaced in overlapping arrangement. Window structure 1012 illustrated inFIG. 26 includes window frame 1016 circumscribing an opening entirely orsubstantially entirely devoid of glass. First and second patch members I044 a and I 044 b are secured over frame 1016 to cover the opening inits entirety, and each patch member I 044 a and I 044 b is a pre-formedpanel made of polymeric foam as described above for panel 848. Patchmembers 1044 a and 1044 b are secured to frame member 1016 as describedfor patch members 744 a and 744 b, except that patch members I 044 a andI 044 b are closely juxtaposed to one another without overlapping.Accordingly, the right side edge of patch member I 044 a is close to orin abutment with the left side edge of patch member I 044 b to form aseam 1070 between the adjacent patch members. A body of unifyingmaterial 1020 is applied over the exterior and/or interior sides of thepatch formed by patch members 1044 a and 1044 b to form a cohesive masstherewith. The unifying material is applied to the seam 1070 between theadjacent patch members and forms an adhesive and/or mechanical bond thatbridges the seam when the unifying material has cured. Although theunifying material may desirably be applied over the entire orsubstantially the entire surface area of the patch, the quantity ofunifying material applied to the patch may be minimized in that it mayonly be necessary to apply the unifying material to the seam. The patchmembers 1044 a and 1044 b may be removably secured to frame 1016adhesively, including use of the unifying material as the adhesive,and/or mechanically using mechanical securing devices as described forpanel 848.

FIGS. 27-32 illustrate a method and a system of components for portedstabilization of a window structure wherein a port is formed in thecohesive mass to provide visualization and/or light transmissiontherethrough. FIG. 32 illustrates the ported stabilized windowstructure. Window structure 1112 illustrated in FIG. 27 includes windowframe 1116 circumscribing an opening 1142 devoid of glass, and theopening 1142 can be entirely or almost entirely devoid of glass. Thewindow structure 1112 is in an unstable condition in FIG. 27 due to theempty opening 1142. The window frame 1116 is illustrated by way ofexample as comprising a peripheral frame member 1117 extending aroundthe opening 1142, a peripheral flange 1125 extending along the perimeterof the opening 1142 inwardly of the peripheral frame member 1117, and aperipheral side wall 1127 extending around the opening 1142 between theperipheral frame member 1117 and the peripheral flange 1125. The windowframe 1116 is depicted by way of example as having four straight sides,with the peripheral frame member 1117 having a top frame member piece, abottom frame member piece, a left frame member piece and a right framemember piece arranged in end to end relation around the opening 1142.The top and bottom frame member pieces are depicted as being parallel toone another. The left and right frame member pieces are depicted asbeing parallel to one another and perpendicular to the top and bottomframe member pieces. The peripheral flange 1125 and the peripheral sidewall 1127 follow the configuration of peripheral frame member 1117.Accordingly, the peripheral flange 1125 has top, bottom, left and rightperipheral flange sections in respective correspondence with the top,bottom, left and right frame member pieces. The peripheral side wall1127 has top, bottom, left and right peripheral side wall sections inrespective correspondence with the top, bottom, left and right framemember pieces. The peripheral flange 1125 may be flat or planar as shownin FIG. 27. Each side wall section may be flat or planar and may beperpendicular to its corresponding peripheral flange section as seen inFIG. 27. Typically, the peripheral frame member 1117 will be disposed onthe interior side of the window structure 1112 and the peripheral flange1125 will be disposed on the exterior side. The window frame 1116 andits circumscribed opening 1142 have an inside depth between theperipheral frame member 1117 and the peripheral flange 1125.

The window structure 1112 may have originally included one or more glasspanes within the opening 1142, and the opening 1142 may be devoid ofglass due to the one or more glass panes having been stabilized andremoved from the window frame 1116 as part of a cohesive mass in any ofthe various ways described above. The opening 1142 may be devoid ofglass due to no glass having yet been installed in the window frame 1116as, for example, in the case of an uncompleted window structure locatedin a building or structure under construction. The window frame 1116 maybe composed of various structural components or may simply be formed bya peripheral edge, border or surface circumscribing the opening 1142.

In the method of ported stabilization for window structure 1112, atransparent, translucent or optically clear patch or sheet 1144 isremovably secured on the window structure 1112 to cover the opening inits entirety as shown in FIG. 28. The patch 1144 can be translucent toallow the passage of light therethrough without being clear enough topermit visualization therethrough. The patch 1144 can be sufficientlytransparent or clear to permit both visualization and the transmissionof light therethrough. The patch 1144, as best seen in FIGS. 27 and 28,comprises a single patch or sheet member having a size and configurationin order for a peripheral border of the patch or sheet 1144 to overlapthe peripheral flange 1125 of the window frame 1116. The patch or sheet1144 may be a thin film or a relatively thicker panel of transparent,translucent or clear polymeric or cellulosic material, includingplastics, such as polycarbonates exemplified by Lexan from GeneralElectric Company. The patch 1144 may be lightweight, resistant tocracking or breakage, and may be waterproof or water-resistant. Thepatch 1144 can have various tensile strengths. The patch 1144 may beflexible or bendable, and the degree of flexibility can be varied. Thepatch 1144 can be sufficiently flexible in order to be provided orstored in a rolled up condition prior to use, or the patch 1144 can besufficiently rigid in order to be handled in a manner similar to glass.When removably secured on window structure 1112 to cover the opening1142, the patch 1144 will typically be in a flat or planar condition.The patch 1144 can be cut in the appropriate size and shape from alarger piece of the transparent or translucent material. The patch 1144can be cut to size and shape using any suitable manual or poweredcutting tools. The ability to cut the patch 1144 to the appropriate sizeand shape using manual cutting tools, such as knives and blades, isadvantageous since electrical power needed for powered cutting tools maybe unavailable when the window structure 1112 needs to be stabilized,for example during storm-related power outages or other conditionsresulting in loss of utility power. In contrast, the use of plywoodpanels to board up empty window openings disadvantageously requires theuse of power tools in addition to the other disadvantages of plywooddiscussed hereinabove. Although it is preferred that the patch or sheet1144 be a single patch or sheet member of appropriate size and shape tocover the opening 1142 in its entirety, the patch or sheet 1144 couldcomprise a plurality of overlapping and/or abutting patch or sheetmembers as described above.

The patch 1144 can be removably secured to the window structure 1112 invarious ways to be disposed over and cover the opening 1142. FIG. 28depicts an example where the peripheral border of patch 1144 isremovably secured to the peripheral flange 1125 of window frame 1116 inoverlapping relation, with the patch presenting an exposed surface areainside the boundary of the peripheral flange 1125. The peripheral borderof patch 1144 can be secured to the peripheral flange 1125 continuouslyalong the entire periphery of the patch 1144 or at separate discretelocations spaced along the periphery of the patch 1144. It may bepreferable for the patch 1144 to be secured to the window frame 1116continuously along the entire periphery of the patch for an enhancedseal between the patch and the window structure 1112 and for enhancedcosmetic or aesthetic appearance in the ported stabilized windowstructure. The patch 1144 can be placed in removable securement on thewindow frame 1116 from the interior side of the window structure 1112,which affords greater convenience and eliminates the need for ladders orscaffolds to access the exterior sides of elevated window structures.

FIG. 28 depicts an arrangement where the peripheral border of the patch1144 is removably secured to the peripheral flange 1125 continuouslyalong the entire periphery of the patch via an adhesive 1143 between theperipheral border and flange 1125. The patch 1144 can be self-securingas explained above in that the adhesive 1143 can be provided as anadhesive backing on the peripheral border of the patch 1144, and theadhesive backing may be covered by a removable cover sheet whichprotects the adhesive backing prior to use. The patch 1144 can beprovided without an adhesive backing, in which case the adhesive 1143can be a separate adhesive applied to the peripheral border of patch1144 and/or to the peripheral flange 1125 of window frame 1116 as a stepin the ported stabilization method. If necessary, the adhesive used tosecure the patch 1144 to the window frame 1116 can be placed over arelease element applied to the window frame 1116 to facilitatesubsequent removal of the cohesive mass from the window structure asexplained above and further below. It should also be appreciated thatthe unifying material used to form the cohesive mass can be used as theadhesive 1143 for securing the patch 1144 to the window frame 1116 whenapplied over a release element. Where the adhesive 1143 is applieddirectly to the peripheral flange 1125 without a release element, it ispreferable that the adhesive be removable from the peripheral flange sothat the flange is left without any significant damage. Instead of or inaddition to adhesive 1143, the patch 1144 can be removably secured tothe window frame 1116 using various types of mechanical securing devicesas described above and further below. Depending on the structure of thewindow frame, the window frame itself can serve as a securing device forthe patch as described below for window frame 1216.

FIG. 29 depicts an example of a mechanical securing device 1149 forremovably securing the patch 1144 to the window frame 1116 to cover theopening 1142. The securing device 1149, which may be used as analternative or in addition to the adhesive 1143, comprises a pluralityof securing members 1150, i.e. top, bottom, left and right securingmembers 1150, corresponding respectively to the top, bottom, left andright peripheral flange sections of peripheral flange 1125. Eachsecuring member 1150 comprises a block or wedge for being removablysecured to the window frame 1116 in a position to hold the peripheralborder of patch 1144 against the peripheral flange 1125 in overlappingrelation. Each securing member 1150 has a first face or surface 1151 forbeing placed in overlapping engagement or abutment with the peripheralborder of patch 1144 disposed over peripheral flange 1125, and a secondface or surface 1152 for being placed in overlapping engagement orabutment with the corresponding peripheral side wall section ofperipheral side wall 1127. Preferably, the securing members 1150 are ofappropriate length for the securing device 1149 to extend along theentire periphery of flange 1125 and patch 1144 so that the peripheralborder of the patch 1144 is held against the flange 1125 continuouslyalong the entire periphery of the patch. Although the securing device1149 is depicted in FIG. 29 as comprising top, bottom, left and rightsecuring members 1150 respectively corresponding to the top, bottom,left and right peripheral flange and side wall sections, the securingdevice 1149 can comprise a single securing member or any suitableplurality of securing members. The first and second faces 1151 and 1152may be planar for respective abutment with the corresponding planarsurfaces of the peripheral border of patch 1144 and the peripheral sidewall sections of peripheral side wall 1127. The one or more securingmembers 1150 may be of any suitable geometric configuration incross-section including a square cross-sectional configuration as shownfor securing members 1150 or a rectangular cross-sectionalconfiguration. The one or more securing members 1150 can be made of alightweight spongy material or of any other suitable material. The oneor more securing members 1150 can be removably secured or held in placeon the window frame 1116 in various ways including adhesively,mechanically via mechanical securing elements, and/or a friction fitwith the window frame 1116. The securing device 1149 can be removablysecured to the window frame 1116 from the interior side of the windowstructure 1112.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 29, the second faces 1152 of securingmembers 1150 are releasably adhesively secured to the peripheral sidewall 1127. In addition, the securing device 1149 fits snugly inside ofthe peripheral side wall 1127 for a friction fit with the window frame1116, and the snug fit may be enhanced due to the compressibility of thespongy material from which the securing members 1150 are formed. Thefirst faces 1151 of the securing members 1150 could also be adhesivelysecured to the peripheral border of the patch 1144. The adhesive used tosecure the securing device 1149 to the window frame 1116, and optionallyto the patch 1144, can be the same as the adhesive 1143. The one or moresecuring members 1150 may be self-securing in that the second faces1152, and/or any other appropriate faces or surfaces of the securingmembers, can be provided with an adhesive backing which may be coveredby a removable cover sheet that protects the adhesive backing prior touse. The one or more securing members 1150 can be provided without anadhesive backing, in which case the adhesive can be a separate adhesiveapplied to the appropriate faces or surfaces of the one or more securingmembers 1150, to the window frame 1116 and/or to the peripheral borderof the patch 1144 as a step in the ported stabilization method. Ifnecessary, the adhesive used to secure the securing device 1149 to thewindow frame 1116 can be placed over a release element applied to thewindow frame 1116 as explained above and further below. It should beappreciated that the unifying material used to form the cohesive masscan be used as the adhesive for securing the securing device 1149 to thewindow frame 1116 when placed over a release element. As seen in FIG.29, it is preferred that the one or more securing members 1150 have adepth less than the inside depth of the window frame 1116 and itscircumscribed opening 1142 such that the peripheral side wall 127 is notcompletely covered by the securing device 1149 when the securing device1149 is removably secured in place on the window frame 1116 with thefirst faces 1151 in abutment with the peripheral border of patch 1144which is held by the securing device 1149 in abutment with theperipheral flange 1125. It is also preferred that the one or moresecuring members 1150 have a width less than or close in size to thewidth of the peripheral flange 1125, as shown in FIG. 29, to avoid orminimize protrusion of the securing device 1149 inwardly beyond theflange 1125 into overlap with the exposed surface area of the patch1144.

It should be appreciated that the patch 1144 can be releasably securedto the window structure 1112 at various locations on the windowstructure 1112. The patch 1144 can be secured to the window structure1112 externally along the exterior side or the interior side of thewindow structure 1112. The patch 1144 can be secured to the windowstructure 1112 internally along the depth of the window frame 1116 as isthe case for patch 1144. Internal securement of the patch 1144 to thewindow structure 1112 may provide a better attachment and may bepreferable to an external attachment. The patch 1144 can be internallysecured at various locations along the depth of the window frame 1116,but more preferably, the patch should be secured about mid-way along thedepth of the window frame. For example, in a window frame having a totaldepth of four inches, it is desirable for the patch to be secured alongthe total depth about two inches inwardly of either the exterior side orthe interior side of the window structure.

FIG. 30 illustrates a release element 1145 applied to the entire portionof peripheral side wall 1127 that is not covered by the securing device1149 and applied to all or part of the peripheral frame member 1117. Therelease element 1145 can include any of the various types of releaseelements described hereinabove, and the release element 1145 may besimple masking tape or painter's tape. The release element 1145 isapplied to the entire uncovered portions of the top, bottom, left andright peripheral side wall sections of peripheral side wall 1127. In thearrangement depicted in FIG. 30, the release element 1145 is alsoapplied to a part, but not all, of the peripheral frame member 1117. Inparticular, the release element 1145 is shown by way of example as beingapplied to an inner margin of the peripheral frame member 1117 incontinuity with the release element 1145 applied to the peripheral sidewall 1127, leaving an outer margin of the peripheral frame member 1117uncovered by the release element 1145. Of course, it should beappreciated that the release element 1145 can be applied so as to coverboth the inner and outer margins of the peripheral frame member 1117 orany other portion of or around window structure 1112, and/or thebuilding or structure in which the window structure 1112 is located,that it is desired to protect from the application of unifying material.As pointed out above, the release element 1145 can be applied to thewindow frame 1116 before the patch 1144 and securing device 1149 aresecured to the window frame 1116, and the adhesive used to secure thepatch 1144 and/or the securing device 1149 to the window frame 1116 maybe applied over the release element 1145. Accordingly, the unifyingmaterial and/or any adhesive that would normally form a permanent oressentially permanent bond and be difficult or impossible to cleanlyremove can be used as the adhesive to secure the patch 1144 and/or thesecuring device 1149 on the window frame 1116 when applied over therelease element 1145. In the latter case, the unifying material and/orpermanent adhesive can form a permanent or essentially permanent bondwith the release element 1145, which can be released or removed from thewindow structure 1112 without any substantial damage to the windowstructure.

A barrier or shield device 1166 for shielding a segment of the exposedsurface area of patch 1144 from the application of unifying material isshown in FIG. 30. The shield device 1166 includes a shield body 1167 ofhollow construction having a first or abutment end 1168 for being placedin contact or abutment with the exposed surface area of patch 1144 alongthe side of patch 1144 that is to be covered with unifying material.Preferably, the abutment end 1168 is placed in contact with an interiorsurface of patch 1144 from the interior side of the window structure1112. The abutment end 1168 is open into the interior of the shield body1167 and includes a perimeter edge that is disposed in a plane so as toallow placement of the perimeter edge in close continuous contact withthe surface of patch 1144. In the case of shield body 1167, theperimeter edge is circular due to the shield body 1167 having acylindrical configuration. However, it should be appreciated that theshield body 1167 can have various geometric configurations of uniform ornon-uniform cross-section and that the perimeter edge of the abutmentend 1168 can have various non-circular configurations. The perimeteredge of the abutment end 1168 is preferably of a size to fit entirelywithin the exposed surface area of patch 1144 so that the abutment end1168, and the segment of the patch covered by the abutment end, arecircumscribed or surrounded by a portion of the exposed surface area ofpatch 1144. A second end 1169 of the shield body 1167, opposite theabutment end 1168, is also open into the interior of the shield body,and the shield device 1166 may include a lid or cover 1172 for closingoff the end 1169. The lid 1172 may be provided with a handle 1174 forgrasping. The lid 1172 may be removable from the shield body 1167 toexpose the interior thereof, and the shield device 1166 can be providedwith any suitable retention mechanism (not shown) for releasablyretaining, securing or locking the lid 1172 on the end 1169 of theshield body 1167 and allowing the lid 1172 to be selectively removedfrom the shield body 1167. The lid 1172 can be simple masking orpainter's tape or a release element. The lid 1172 can be removablyattached to the shield body 1167 in a manner permitting the shielddevice 1166, including the shield body 1167 and the attached lid 1172,to be carried and manipulated as a single unit via handle 1174. The lid1172 can be made of transparent, translucent or optically clear materialso that the lid does not have to be removable from the end 1169 in orderto expose the interior of the shield body 1167. Where the lid 1172 istransparent, translucent or clear, the interior of the shield body 1167is exposed due to the visibility and/or light transmission providedthrough the lid. Where the lid 1172 is made of transparent, translucentor clear material and is intended to remain in place with the shieldbody 1167 as part of the ported stabilized window structure, the lid1172 can be provided with a handle 1174 that is removable from the lid.It should be appreciated, however, that the lid of the shield deviceneed not be provided with a handle.

In the method of ported stabilization of window structure 1112, theperimeter edge of the abutment end 1168 of the shield device 1166 can bemanually held in place against the surface of patch 1144 by pressing theabutment end 1168 against the patch 1144 using handle 1174 to manipulatethe shield device 1166. However, it should be appreciated that anysuitable type of restraining device, including adhesives and/ormechanical devices, could be provided for holding the perimeter edge ofabutment end 1168 in contact with the surface of patch 1144. Theperimeter edge of the abutment end 1168 is held in contact with thesurface of the patch 1144 so that the abutment end is disposed over andcovers a segment of the exposed surface area of patch 1144 to beshielded from the application of unifying material for formation of aport as explained further below. FIG. 30 depicts the abutment end 1168placed against the exposed surface area of patch 1144 so that the shieldbody 1167 is centered or substantially centered on the exposed surfacearea and within the opening 1142. It should be appreciated, however,that the abutment end 1168 can be placed in contact with the exposedsurface area of patch 1144 at various locations including non-centeredlocations. Since the shield device 1166 is illustrated as being placedin contact with the patch 1144 from the interior side of the windowstructure 1112, the shield body 1167 extends from the patch 1144 alongthe inside depth of the window frame 1116 toward the interior side ofthe window structure 1112. As depicted in FIG. 30, the opening 1142presents an empty or vacant portion around the shield body 1167 forreceiving unifying material applied to a desired depth over the patch1144. Preferably, the length of the shield body 1167 is the same as orslightly greater than the desired depth for the unifying material.

FIG. 31 illustrates a unifying material 1120 applied over the patch 1144around the shield body 1167 to fill or substantially fill the vacantspace remaining in the opening 1142. The unifying material 1120 issupplied to the vacant space from the interior side of the windowstructure 1112. The unifying material 1120 is applied over the patch1144 to the desired depth within the boundary of the peripheral sidewall 1127. FIG. 31 depicts an arrangement where the unifying material1120 is applied to a depth where the unifying material 1120 comes closeto but does not quite reach the level of the peripheral frame member1117 along the interior side of window structure 1112. The second end1169 of the shield body 1167 and the lid 1172 protrude beyond the depthof the unifying material 1120, while a substantial portion of the lengthof the shield body 1167 is embedded in and surrounded by the unifyingmaterial 1120.

The unifying material 1120 is preferably a polymeric foam applied influidic form by spraying as described hereinabove. The ability for theunifying material 1120 to be applied by spraying is advantageous for thereasons previously discussed above as well as for the fact that thedevices or systems used for spray-on application of the unifyingmaterial 1120 can be self-propelled or self-powered without the need forelectrical power or any other extraneous source of power. The unifyingmaterial 1120 is applied to the vacant space around the shield device1166 as a layer or body 1121 of the unifying material 1120 which expandsin three dimensions. As the unifying material 1120 is supplied to thevacant space, the abutment end 1168 of the shield device 1166 can bemanually held in place against the patch 1144 and, since the unifyingmaterial 1120 begins to set, harden or solidify quickly afterapplication, the shield body 1167 may be held in place by the unifyingmaterial itself soon after the application of the unifying material hasbegun. During the application process, the release element 1145 preventssplatters or overspray of the unifying material from bonding withsurfaces of or around the window structure that it is desired toprotect. The lid 1172 prevents the entry of unifying material into theinterior of the shield body 1167.

Since the abutment end 1168 of the shield body 1167 is maintained inclose contact with the surface of patch 1144 as the unifying material1120 is applied, the perimeter edge in contact with the surface of thepatch 1144 serves as a barrier against infiltration of the unifyingmaterial past the perimeter edge and onto the shielded segment of theexposed surface area of patch 1144. Accordingly, the shielded segment ofthe patch 1144 that is covered by the abutment end 1168 remains free oressentially free of unifying material 1120 so as to retain itstransparency, translucence or clarity for visualization and/or lighttransmission therethrough. Once the body 1121 of unifying material 1120has been applied to the appropriate depth and has set, hardened,solidified or cured as described above, an integral cohesive mass 1124is formed including the body 1121 of unifying material 1120 and thepatch 1144, the release element 1145, the securing device 1149 and theshield body 1167 which are all bonded to the body of unifying materialwith a permanent or essentially permanent bond. The window structure1112 is stabilized due to the presence of cohesive mass 1124 filling thepreviously empty opening, and the cohesive mass 1124 may also stabilizethe window structure by providing a seal between the exterior andinterior sides of the window structure. Upon removal of the lid 1172from the shield body 1167 as shown in FIG. 32, a ported stabilizedwindow structure 1112 is obtained. Removal of the lid 1172 exposes theopen end 1169 and the interior of the shield body 1167. The interior ofthe shield body 1167 forms a passage or channel 1176 through the entiredepth of the body 1121 of unifying material, the passage 1176 beingclosed along the exterior side of the window structure 1112 by the patch1144. The shielded segment 1175 of the exposed surface area of the patch1144 that is maintained free or essentially free of the unifyingmaterial 1120 is in communication or alignment with the passage 1176.The open end 1169 of the shield body 1167 is disposed along the interiorside of the window structure 1112 and establishes communication with thepassage 1176. The shielded segment 1175 and the passage 1176 form a port1177 in the cohesive mass 1124 for visualization and/or lighttransmission therethrough. Of course, as explained above, the end 1169can be provided with a transparent, translucent or clear lid or coverthat can remain in place as part of the port 1177.

The cohesive mass 1124 can remain in place for any desired length oftime. Where the window structure originally had glass installed in theopening, the cohesive mass can remain in place until replacement glasscan be installed in the window structure. Where glass had not yet beeninstalled in the window structure, the cohesive mass can remain in placeuntil glass is ready to be installed. The ability for light to betransmitted through the port 1177 enables outdoor light to betransmitted from the exterior side to the interior side of the portedstabilized window structure 1112, which is especially beneficial insituations where utility power is lost or not available in the buildingor other structure in which the window structure 1112 is located. Thecapability for visualization through the port 1177 provides security forthe occupants of a building or other structure in which the windowstructure 1112 is located by providing a means for occupants to assessexternal conditions.

The cohesive mass 1124 can be removed from the window structure 1112 inany of the ways described hereinabove. The cohesive mass 1124, includingthe body 1121 of unifying material 1120, the patch 1144, the releaseelement 1145, the securing device 1149 and the shield body 1167, may beremoved as a single integral or monolithic piece. In order to facilitateremoval of the cohesive mass 1124, the lid 1172 of the shield device1166 can be replaced on the shield body 1167 and secured in positionthereon so that the handle 1174 can be used as a grasping member tofacilitate removal of the cohesive mass 1124 as explained above for theremoval of cohesive masses using grasping members, If the lid 1172 isdesigned to remain on the shield body 1167 as part of the portedstabilized window structure and has a handle that is removabletherefrom, the handle can be reattached to the lid and secured theretofor use as a grasping member to facilitate removal of the cohesive mass1124. Of course, it should be appreciated that the cohesive mass 1124can be provided with any of the grasping members described hereinabove.

The method for ported stabilization of a window structure can be carriedout using a system or kit for ported stabilization of a windowstructure. The system or kit can provide the components for portedstabilization of a window structure including a first transparent,translucent or clear patch or a quantity of material from which thepatch can be cut to size and shape, a securing device, a releaseelement, a shield device, and a supply of the unifying material. The kitor system may also include a second transparent, translucent or clearpatch, or a quantity of material from which a second patch can be cut tosize and shape, for being placed over the body of unifying materialalong the side opposite the first patch to become part of the cohesivemass as explained further below for window structure 1412.

FIGS. 33-36 illustrate an alternative method of ported stabilization ofa window structure to obtain a ported stabilized window structure, whichis illustrated in FIG. 36. Window structure 1212 illustrated in FIG. 33differs from window structure 1112 in that the peripheral side wall 1227of window structure 1212 includes a track 1258 for receiving theperipheral edge of a single glass pane or the peripheral edge of anarray of glass panes that would normally be mounted in the opening 1242circumscribed by the window frame 1216. The opening 1242 circumscribedby window frame 1216 is devoid of glass, however, such that the windowstructure 1212 depicted in FIG. 33 is unstable. The track 1258 may besimilar to the track 958 and may constitute a groove formed in or on theperipheral side wall 1227 of window frame 1216. In the case of windowstructure 1212, the track 1258 includes a groove that extends along thetop, bottom, left and right peripheral side wall sections of peripheralside wall 1227. The location of the track 1258 on the peripheral sidewall 1227 is depicted by way of example as being about midway betweenthe peripheral frame member 1217 along the interior side of the windowstructure and an outer edge 1231 of the peripheral side wall locatedalong the exterior side of the window structure. The opening 1242circumscribed by window frame 1216 thusly has an inside depth betweenthe track 1258 and the peripheral frame member 1217.

In the method for ported stabilization of the window structure 1212, atransparent, translucent or clear patch 1244 is releasably secured onthe window frame 1216 to cover the opening 1242 by releasable engagementof the peripheral edge of the patch 1244 in the track 1258. The patch1244 is best seen in FIGS. 33 and 34 and is similar to the patch 1144.The patch 1244 has a size and configuration for the peripheral edge ofthe patch to be releasably captured in the track 1258 as shown in FIG.34 such that the window frame 1216 itself serves as the securing devicefor the patch. Engagement of the peripheral edge of the patch 1244 inthe track 1258 can be facilitated by providing the patch 1244 with thecapability to resiliently flex or bend.

FIG. 35 depicts a release element 1245 applied to the inner margin ofthe peripheral frame member 1217 and to the peripheral side wall 1227,seen in FIGS. 33 and 34, between the patch 1244 and the peripheral framemember 1217. The release element 1245 is similar to the release element1145 and, as described for release element 1145, may be applied to othersurfaces of or around the window structure 1112.

FIG. 35 also illustrates an alternative shield device 1266 that isdesigned to be removable from the body of unifying material and does notform part of the ported stabilized window structure. The shield device1266 includes a shield body 1267 that may be similar to shield body1167, but the exterior surface of the shield body 1267 may be coatedwith or made of a material to prevent it from bonding to the unifyingmaterial. Alternatively, the shield body 1267 may be removable from thebody of unifying material by timing its removal to occur after theunifying material has hardened sufficiently to hold its shape but beforethe unifying material has had a chance to form a permanent bond with theshield body. As another alternative, the shield body 1267 could beremoved by cutting it out of the cohesive mass after the body ofunifying material has solidified. The shield body 1267 is of solidconstruction but could be hollow as described for shield body 1167. Theabutment end for shield body 1267, which is not visible in FIG. 35 dueto the unifying material 1220 being applied around the shield body 1267,thusly includes a solid planar surface for being placed in close contactwith the surface of patch 1244. The second end 1269 of the shield body1267 is defined by a solid surface having a handle 1274 attachedthereto. The shield body 1267 also differs from the shield body 1167 inthat the shield body 1267 has a square cross sectional configurationbetween its ends 1268 and 1269.

In a method of ported stabilization of the window structure 1212, theabutment end of the shield body 1267 is placed in contact with theexposed surface area of patch 1244 from the interior side of the windowstructure 1212 to cover or shield a segment of the exposed surface areaas described above for window structure 1112. The opening 1242circumscribed by the window frame 1116 presents a vacant space aroundthe shield body 1267 as described above for the window structure 1112.The unifying material 1220 is supplied to the vacant space over thepatch 1244 to a desired depth within the boundary of the peripheral sidewall 1227 as described above for window structure 1112. When theunifying material 1220 is supplied to the vacant space around the shieldbody 1267, the abutment end of the shield body 1267 in contact with thesurface of the patch 1244 ensures that the shielded segment of the patch1244 that is covered by the abutment end remains free or substantiallyfree of the unifying material 1220 as described above for windowstructure 1112. FIG. 35 shows a body 1221 of the unifying material 1220filling the space around the shield body 1267 to a depth about levelwith the peripheral frame member 1217. The shield body 1267 is removedfrom the body of unifying material using the handle 1274 to pull theshield body 1267 away from the patch 1244 and the window structure 1212.As shown in FIG. 36, removal of the shield body 1267 leaves or exposes apassage 1276 through the entire depth of the body 1221 of unifyingmaterial 1220 in the place vacated by the shield body. The passage 1276is aligned or in communication with the shielded segment 1275 of thepatch 1244 and is closed by the patch 1244 along the exterior side ofthe window structure 1212. As described for the ported stabilized windowstructure 1112, the shielded segment 1275 of patch 1244 and the passage1276 in the body 1221 of unifying material 1220 form a port 1277 in thecohesive mass 1224 of the ported stabilized window structure 1212 toprovide light transmission and/or visualization between the exterior andinterior sides of the window structure.

In the shield devices 1166 and 1266, the shield bodies protect theshielded segment of the patch from the application of unifying materialthereon and also control formation of the passage in the body ofunifying material. It should be appreciated, however, that the shielddevice can be designed to protect the shielded segment of the patch fromthe application of unifying material without controlling formation ofthe passage in the body of unifying material. Accordingly, the shielddevice can be any removable mask, including a material, substance orcoating, disposed on the shielded segment to prevent the shieldedsegment from bonding with the unifying material. Formation of thepassage in the body of unifying material can be controlled by the usercontrolling the pattern of application for the unifying material or bythe user removing a section of the body of unifying material.

FIG. 37 illustrates an example where a patch 1344 is secured to a windowframe 1316 of window structure 1312 to cover opening 1342 as previouslydescribed for window structure 1212. However, the shield device 1366used for ported stabilization of window structure 1312 includes aremovable mask 1378 that is removably secured on the shielded segment ofthe exposed surface area of patch 1344 that is intended to be maintainedfree or substantially free of the unifying material. The mask 1378 maybe the same or similar to any of the release elements describedhereinabove. The mask 1378 serves as a barrier to protect the shieldedsegment from the application of unifying material, while unifyingmaterial applied over the mask may be permitted to permanently orsubstantially permanently bond to the mask. The unifying material maythen be applied by the user to the vacant space around the mask 1378 asa body of unifying material of desired depth, while avoiding applicationof the unifying material over the mask, so that a passage is formed inthe body of unifying material over the mask. The mask 1378 can then beremoved from the patch 1344, such as by peeling the mask away from thepatch, to reveal or expose the shielded segment of the patch 1344 andform a port in the cohesive mass. Any overspray of the unifying materialon the mask 1378 is removed along with the mask. The ported stabilizedwindow structure obtained by this procedure will be like that depictedin FIG. 38, except that the sides of the passage 1376 formed in the bodyof unifying material 1321 are likely to be more irregular.

FIG. 38 depicts a modification of the ported stabilization described forthe window structure 1312 in that the unifying material 1320 is appliedaround and over the mask 1378 without attempting to control the patternof application of the unifying material to form a passage in the body1321 of unifying material 1320. The unifying material 1320 applied overthe mask 1378 is allowed to bond to the mask 1378. Once the body 1321 ofunifying material 1320 has hardened, solidified or cured sufficiently, asection 1380 of the body of unifying material over the mask 1378 isremoved, and the mask is removed therewith, to form a port 1377 in thecohesive mass 1324. The section 1380 can be cut out of the body ofunifying material that remains as part of the cohesive mass 1324 and canbe removed as one or more pieces. Removal of section 1380 forms thepassage 1376 in the body of unifying material and removal of the mask1378 exposes the shielded segment of the patch that the mask 1378maintained free or substantially free of the unifying material.

FIG. 39 illustrates a modification to ported stabilization of a windowstructure that can be applied to any of the methods of portedstabilization described above. FIG. 39 shows a window structure 1412 inthe course of being stabilized in a manner similar to that described forwindow structure 1112. However, FIG. 39 shows the body 1421 of unifyingmaterial 1420 applied over the patch 1445 to a depth that is even orflush, or substantially even or flush, with the peripheral frame member1417. The end 1469 of the shield body 1467 is also even or flush, orsubstantially even or flush, with the peripheral frame member 1417. Thepatch 1445 to which the unifying material 1420 has been applied is afirst patch, and the modification represented by FIG. 39 involves theuse of a second patch 1482 for being placed over the surface of the body1421 of unifying material 1420 opposite the first patch 1445 so that thebody of unifying material is sandwiched between the first and secondpatches. The patch 1482 may be similar to the patch 1445 and may have asize and configuration to cover the end 1469 of the shield body 1467 andthe entire or substantially entire surface of body 1421. The patch 1482can have a size and configuration in order for a peripheral edge orborder of the patch 1482 to be releasably secured in overlappingrelation with the peripheral frame member 1417. Alternatively or inaddition to securement of the patch 1482 to the peripheral frame member1417, the patch 1482 can be placed in contact with the body 1421 ofunifying material 1420 while the unifying material is still in anadhesive state so that the patch 1482 will bond permanently oressentially permanently to the body of unifying material and become partof the cohesive mass 1424. The patch 1482 may thusly close off the openend 1469 of the shield body 1467 and may thusly comprise part of theport 1477, with the patch 1482 permitting visualization and/or lighttransmission therethrough.

The present invention may be used to stabilize and/or to remove glass orpanes from windows, walls, doors or any other architectural component inbuildings, vehicles and any other fabrications or constructions. Thepresent invention may be used on planar and non-planar panes of varioustypes. In accordance with the present invention, a shattered, broken orcracked window pane is bonded with a layer of unifying material into oneor more cohesive, integral masses which can be controllably removed froma window frame as one or more integral and unitary pieces. The layer ofunifying material quickly bonds or adheres to the window pane, such thatthe window pane is stabilized and may be removed shortly after the layerof unifying material is applied. The relatively quick cure time for theunifying material makes the present invention particularly well suitedfor stabilizing and/or removing window panes in time criticalsituations. Holes, openings or voids in window panes can be covered andsealed in accordance with the present invention, with or without the useof a patch. However, a patch may be useful for closing off and sealingrelatively large holes which would be difficult to fill with theunifying material alone, as in the case of window structures in whichall or substantially all of the glass is missing therefrom. The layer ofunifying material may be pre-formed or may be formed in situ as a resultof applying the unifying material to the window structure. The layer ofunifying material is resistant to environmental elements and, ifdesired, may be safely left in place for some time after application tothe window structure. Where adhesives are utilized in accordance withthe present invention, the unifying material can be used as theadhesive.

Removal of a window pane or glass in accordance with the presentinvention ensures that fragments of the window pane or glass are removedas part of a cohesive mass and are not separated or scattered duringremoval and disposal. Accordingly, the need to collect and dispose ofany scattered pieces of the window pane is eliminated. Even where thecohesive mass is removed as a plurality of relatively large pieces, thepieces are not injurious due to their large size and the protectionprovided by the layer of unifying material. Shattered window panes canbe removed as a plurality of cohesive masses using pre-existing cracksin the panes to define or demarcate the cohesive masses. A shatteredwindow pane can be handled as if it were one or a few relatively large,solid pieces and may be handled as if it was not shattered. In addition,handling of the cohesive mass or masses can be further facilitated withthe use of grasping members. The present invention also allows shards tobe removed from a track of a window structure as part of a cohesivemass, thereby avoiding the tedious and dangerous process of picking theshards out of the track individually. The stabilized window structuresand methods of the present invention save time, money, labor andmaterials, and provide enhanced versatility for users to self-customizefor particular applications. The present invention fulfills manypreviously unmet needs of glass professionals, do-it-yourself users,property owners, builders, construction workers and fire, police andmedical personnel.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to various modificationsand additions, the preferred embodiments are intended to be exemplaryonly and not limiting since various modifications, variations andchanges can be made thereto without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A ported stabilized window structure, comprising a window structurehaving a window frame circumscribing an opening devoid of glass; a patchremovably secured to said window structure to cover said opening andpresenting an exposed surface area within said opening, said patch beingmade of a material permitting light transmission therethrough; a body ofunifying material bonded to said exposed surface area of said patcharound a segment of said exposed surface area that is maintained free ofsaid unifying material, said body of unifying material having a passagetherethrough in communication with said segment of said exposed surfacearea, said body of unifying material and said sheet bonded theretoforming a cohesive mass; and a port in said cohesive mass formed by saidpassage and by said segment of said exposed surface area to providelight transmission through said cohesive mass.
 2. The ported stabilizedwindow structure recited in claim 1 wherein said patch is made of amaterial permitting visualization therethrough and said port providesvisualization through said cohesive mass.
 3. The ported stabilizedwindow structure recited in claim 1 wherein said patch is releasablyadhesively secured to said window structure to cover said opening. 4.The ported stabilized window structure recited in claim 1 and furtherincluding a securing device releasably securing said patch to saidwindow structure to cover said opening.
 5. The ported stabilized windowstructure recited in claim 1 wherein said window structure includes atrack extending around said opening and said patch is releasably securedin said track to cover said opening.
 6. The ported stabilized windowstructure recited in claim 1 wherein said unifying material is apolymeric foam.
 7. The ported stabilized window structure recited inclaim 6 wherein said unifying material is applied to said exposedsurface area of said patch in fluidic form and thereafter solidifies toform said cohesive mass.
 8. The ported stabilized window structurerecited in claim 7 and further including a release element releasablysecured on a surface of said window structure to be protected from theapplication of said unifying material.
 9. The ported stabilized windowstructure recited in claim 1 wherein said window structure has anexterior side and an interior side, said patch being disposed along saidexterior side and said body of unifying material being disposed alongsaid interior side.
 10. The ported stabilized window structure recitedin claim 1 and further including a shield device comprising a shieldbody having an interior and an open abutment end in communication withsaid interior, said shield body being bonded to said body of unifyingmaterial as part of said cohesive mass with said abutment end disposedover said segment of said exposed surface area of said patch, saidpassage being formed by said interior of said shield body.
 11. Theported stabilized window structure recited in claim 10 wherein saidshield body has an open end opposite said abutment end in communicationwith said interior.
 12. The ported stabilized window structure recitedin claim 1 wherein said patch is a first patch and further including asecond patch disposed over said body of unifying material with said bodyof unifying material sandwiched between said first patch and said secondpatch.
 13. The ported stabilized window structure recited in claim 12wherein said second patch is bonded to said body of unifying material aspart of said cohesive mass.
 14. A system for ported stabilization of awindow structure having a window frame circumscribing an opening devoidof glass, said system comprising a sheet of material for being securedon the window structure to cover the opening and present an exposedsurface area within the opening, said material permitting lighttransmission therethrough; a supply of a fluidic unifying material forbeing applied to the exposed surface area of said sheet as a body ofunifying material, said unifying material solidifying after applicationto bond to said sheet and form a cohesive mass; and a shield device forbeing disposed over a segment of the exposed surface area of said sheetto shield the segment from application of said unifying material to forma port in the cohesive mass including the shielded segment and a passagein the body of unifying material to provide light transmission throughthe cohesive mass.
 15. The system for recited in claim 14 wherein saidmaterial of said sheet permits visualization therethrough and the portprovides visualization through the cohesive mass.
 16. The system recitedin claim 14 wherein said shield device includes a shield body for beingplaced in contact with said sheet for application of said unifyingmaterial around said shield body, said shield body being removable fromthe body of unifying material to form the passage in the body ofunifying material in the place vacated by said shield body and to revealthe shielded segment of said sheet.
 17. The system recited in claim 14wherein said shield device includes a shield body for being placed incontact with said sheet for application of said unifying material aroundsaid shield body, said shield body being bondable to said unifyingmaterial as part of the cohesive mass, said shield body having aninterior, an open abutment end in communication with said interior forbeing placed over the segment of the exposed surface area of said sheet,and having an end opposite said abutment end providing lighttransmission therethrough, said interior of said shield body forming thepassage in the body of unifying material.
 18. The system recited inclaim 14 wherein said shield device includes a mask for being removablydisposed on said sheet for application of said unifying material aroundsaid mask to form the passage in the body of unifying material, saidmask being removable from said sheet to reveal the shielded segment ofsaid sheet.
 19. The system recited in claim 14 wherein said shielddevice includes a mask for being removably disposed on said sheet forapplication of said unifying material over and around said mask, saidmask being removable from said sheet along with a section of the body ofunifying material to reveal the shielded segment of said sheet and formthe passage in the body of unifying material in the place vacated by theremoved section.
 20. A method for ported stabilization of a windowstructure having a window frame circumscribing an opening devoid ofglass, said method comprising the steps of securing a lighttransmissible patch on the window structure to cover the opening andpresent an exposed surface area within the opening; shielding a segmentof the exposed surface area; applying a body of unifying material offluidic polymeric foam to the exposed surface area of the sheet aroundthe shielded segment to form a passage in the body of unifying materialin communication with the shielded segment; allowing the fluidicpolymeric foam to solidify and bond to the sheet to form a cohesivemass; and providing light transmission through the cohesive mass via aport formed by the passage and by the shielded segment of the exposedsurface area.